tihraxy  of  €he  Cheolojical  ^^mimry 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

The  Estate  of 

BR  560  .Y?  K5  ±869 
Kirkwood,  Agnes  E. 
Church  and  Sunday-school 
work  in  Yonkers 


CtfUl^Gtl 


AND 


Siiqelqy-Scl^ool  Woi^l^ 

IN    YONKKRS: 

ITS  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS. 

BY 

AGNES  E.    KIRKW^OOD. 


Write  this  for  a  memorial  in  a  book.     ExoD.  17:14. 

Now  go,  write  it  before  them  in  a  table  and  note  it  in  a  book,  that  it  may  be  for  the 
time  to  come.     Isa.  30:8. 

It  is  the  privilege  of  history  to  bring  back  things  long  obscured  by  time  or  sinking 
into  oblivion.    Poulson's  History  of  Holderness. 


150   NASSAU   STREET,    NEW   YORK. 


COPYRIGHTED  i88g, 
BY  AGNES  E.  KIRKWOOD. 


TO   THE    MEMORY 
OF 


l^  pother, 


WHOSE   EARLY   AND   PRAYERFUL   INSTRUCTION   IN   THE 

HOLY   SCRIPTURES   WAS   A   TREASURE   TO   ME 

ON   EARTH   AND   WHOSE   LOVE   IS   NOW 

A  TREASURE   IN   HEAVEN. 


THE    AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 


The  chapters  contained  in  this  book  were  written  for  the  "  Yonkers 
Gazette,"  with  no  thought  of  their  further  pubhcation.  As  the  work  pro- 
gressed it  met  with  the  hearty  approbation  of  many  who  are  interested 
in  the  work  of  the  Churches  and  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers,  and  in  com- 
pHance  with  their  wishes  it  is  issued  in  its  present  form. 

The  extent  of  the  work  at  its  first  pubhcation  rendered  unadvisable 
its  publication  in  its  entirety.  It  has  therefore  been  revised,  and  in  its 
revision  nothing  has  been  taken  from  it  but  some  programmes  and  ad- 
dresses dehvered  on  various  occasions  in  connection  with  the  Sunday- 
schools  which  had  no  important  bearing  on  their  history. 

It  is  due  the  memory  of  the  writer's  first  Sunday-school  teacher,  her 
eldest  sister,  to  acknowledge  that  in  all  probability  the  many  difficulties 
and  discouragements  which  seemed  almost  insurmountable  in  its  writing 
would  not  have  been  overcome  but  for  her  helpful  sympathy  and  undis- 
courageable  spirit,  ever  hopeful  and  brave  and  undismayed  by  apparent 
defeat. 

The  writer  here  wishes  to  gratefully  record  her  appreciation  of  the 
assistance  of  Miss  Louisa  Jones,  which  has  enabled  her  to  proceed  with 
this  publication.  Also  for  help  and  encouragement  from  the  Rev.  Lyman 
Cobb,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Charles  CoUins. 

The  author  would  acknowledge  her  obligations  to  the  clergymen  of 
the  various  Cliurches  who  have  in  reply  to  her  inquiries  communicated 
much  valuable  information  concerning  the  Churches. 

The  author  would  also  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  her  grateful 
appreciation  of  the  unfailing  kindness  of  all  who  have  assisted  towards  its 
completion.  To  some  perhaps  the  chapters  will  seem  diffuse,  but  they  are 
not  written  for  any  other  than  a  local  or  antiquarian  public,  which  will  be 
grateful  for  the  author's  inclusive  spirit. 

After  having  received  sucli  kindly  assistance,  it  would  be  ungrateful 
to  dwell  on  the  disadvantages  in  the  midst  of  which  the  work  has  been 
written.     The  writer  has  done  her  utmost  under  the  circumstances,  and 


8  THE   AUTHOR  S    PREFACE. 

though  she  has  fallen  short  of  her  ideal,  she  is  conscious  of  the  necessary 
imperfections  of  her  work,  for  it  is  hardly  possible  that  she  should  have 
escaped  errors  in  a  book  involving  the  examination  of  numerous  reports 
with  their  conflicting  statements  in  regard  to  chronological  records. 

Preventive  work  is  not  so  popular  as  reformatory  work.  The  results 
of  the  latter  are  apparent ;  but  preventive  work  supersedes  reform.  All 
labor  for  rescue  and  reform  emphasizes  the  necessity  of  preventive  work, 
and  this  is  the  aim  of  the  teachers  in  our  Sunday-schools.  That  their 
efforts  in  the  past  have  been  abundantly  blessed  is  verified  by  the  records 
of  our  schools  ;  for  out  of  the  scholars  and  teachers  of  the  Yonkers  Sun- 
day-schools have  sprung  those  who  are  now  pillars  there  and  elsewhere, 
honored  Church  officers,  elders  and  deacons,  efficient  workers  in  Sunday- 
schools  and  other  Christian  effort,  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  men  who 
gave  their  young  lives  for  their  country  in  the  civil  war. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  work,  for  its  seriousness  of  purpose  and  diligence 
of  research,  will  not  be  found  an  unacceptable  contribution  to  the  eccle- 
siastical history  of  Yonkers,  and  that  the  record  of  work  done  in  the 
Churches  and  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  may  be  an  encouragement  to 
all  who  are  endeavoring  to  hold  up  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified,  the 
world's  Light,  Hope,  Refuge,  and  Glory. 


COMMENDATIONS  OF  THIS  WORK. 


From  B.  F.  Jacobs,  of  Chicago,  the  Author  of  the  International  System  of  Sunday-school 
Lessons,  which  are  now  universally  used,  is  tlie  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, comprising  over  sixty  members. 

Chicago,  December  5, 1887. 
Dear  Miss  Kirkwood:— I  am  interested  in  the  Sunday-school  work,  and  consequently 
I  am  interested- in  the  history  and  progress  of  the  work  in  every  place.  I  send  you  a  copy  of 
the  reports,  which  I  hope  will  be  helpful  to  you  in  the  preparation  of  your  articles  for  the 
press.  I  think  their  publication  will  do  good;  it  increases  the  interest  and  arouses  enthu- 
siasm. We  have  had  a  large  experience  with  many  similar  publications  in  the  West,  but 
your  history  goes  back  towards  the  beginning  of  the  Sunday-school  work  in  this  country, 
and  necessarily  ought  to  be  more  interesting  than  those  of  later  date.  I  sincerely  wish  you 
every  success  in  your  efl'ort. 

Yours  in  the  good  work, 

B.  F.  JACOBS. 

From  Rev.  John  H.  Vincent,  D.  D.,  Chairman  of  the  International  Lesson  Committee. 

Boston,  Mass.,  December  28, 1887. 
Dear  Miss  Kirkwood:— The  plan  you  propose  seems  very  good  and  useful,  and  the 
people  of  Yonkers  will  undoubtedly  appreciate  it. 

Yours  in  Sunday-school  bonds, 

J.  U.  VINCENT. 

From  Rev.  A.  F.  Schauffler,  D.  D..  President  of  the  Missionary  Training  Classes  in  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  and  Leader  of  Sunday-school  Teachers'  Normal 
Class,  New  Y'ork. 

260  Fourth  Avenue,  November  28, 1887. 

My  Dear  Miss  Kirkwood:— Your  plan  of  passing  the  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  in 
review  is  a  very  good  one,  and  will  help  those  who  are  trying  to  do  good  work  for  our  com- 
mon Master.    You  have  my  best  wishes  in  this  work  I  am  sure. 

Yours  truly. 

A.  F.  SCHAUFFLER. 

From  the  Secretary  of  Missions  for  New  York  District  of  the  American  Sunday-school  Union, 

Philadelphia. 

New  Y'ork,  October  18, 1888. 

Your  history  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  Sunday-school  work  in  Yonkers  will  be  of 

great  value  as  a  permanent  record  of  work  of  this  branch  of  church  service.    It  is  a  matter  of 

surprise  that  the  historical  interests  of  Sunday-school  work  have  been  so  generally  neglected. 

I  am  sure  those  connected  with  your  schools  will  duly  appreciate  your  labors  in  the 

early  history  of  Bible  Schools  in  your  city.    Wishing  you  abundant  success, 

I  am  very  cordially  yours, 

L.  MILTON  MARSH. 

From  Rev.  H.  M.  Baird,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Yonkers,  April  6, 1888. 
I  return  the  slips  which  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  me.    So  far  as  I  have  had  time  to 
examine  them  you  seem  to  have  made  a  very  interesting  and  complete  series  of  papers  on 
the  Sunday-schools  of  this  city. 

I  remain  yours  very  truly, 

HENRY  M.  BAIRD. 


lO  COMMENDATIONS   OF   THIS   WORK. 

Prom  Rev.  William  S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  of  tlie  Protestant  Episcopal  Clmrcli  in  tlie  United  States  of  America. 

21-26  Bible  House,  New  York,  July  25, 1888. 
I  have  read  with  much  interest  the  papers  containing  an  historical  account  of  the 
Churches  and  Sunday-schools  in  Yonkers.    You  are  engaged  in  a  most  laudable  work,  and 
your  labors  deserve  the  unqualified  appreciation  of  the  people  of  Yonkers.    You  are  certainly 
supplying  important  record  of  local  history  which  will  be  of  permanent  value. 

Faithfully  yours, 

WM.  S.  LANGFORD. 

From  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.  D.,  Pastor  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church. 

New  Yokk,  January  14,  1S88. 
Deak  Miss  Kirkwood:— I  think  the  writer  of  these  papers  quite  capable  of  producing 

an  interesting  little  book It  is  good  to  use  the  pen  for  high  objects.    The  reward  comes 

sooner  or  later,  mostly  later.  Yours  most  truly, 

J.  HALL. 

From  Rev.  William  M.  Taylor,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  Church. 

5  West  Thirty-fifth  Street,  New  York,  May  31, 1889. 
Dear  Miss  Kirkwood:— I  have  read  with  attention  the  historical  sketches  of  the 
Churches  and  Sunday-schools  in  Yonkers  which  you  have  been  good  enough  to  send  me, 
and  have  been  specially  interested  in  those  which  treat  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church.  Such  historical  details  as  you  give  increase  in  value  as  time  passes,  while  their 
present  interest  is  very  great. 

Will  you  please  put  me  down  as  a  subscriber  for  two  copies  of  the  book. 

Yours  faithfully,  ^ 

WM.  M.  TAYLOR. 

From  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison,  Pastor  of  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church,  Yonkers. 

The  history  of  the  Yonkers  Sunday-schools  testifies  to  the  patient  and  painstaking 
research  of  the  author.  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirkwood.  The  full  value  of  her  work  will  be  more 
appreciated  when  years  shall  have  passed  and  its  pages  shall  be  perused  by  such  as  delight 
to  search  for  sources  of  innuences,  potent  when  the  characters  of  thousands  were  moulded. 

CHARLES  E.  ALLISON. 

From  a  former  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Yonkers,  Rev.  Victor  M.  Hulbert,  D.  l). 
148  North  Avenue,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  April  28, 1888. 
In  the  preparation  of  your  several  articles  on  Sunday-school  Work  in  Yonkers  I  have 
been  agreeably  surprised  at  the  research,  scope,  accuracy,  and  style  of  your  perlormance, 
as  if  Providence  had  quaUfled  and  marked  you  out  for  tliat  specific  work. 
With  much  regard,  very  truly  yours, 

V.  M.  HULBERT. 
From  Rev.  John  Reid,  D.  D. 

First  Presbyterian  Manse,  Yonkers,  N.  Y..  December  22. 1888. 
Historical  beginnings  are  vital  as  well  as  interesting;  passing  time  always  adds  to 
their  value. 

Personally  interested  in  this  love's  labor  of  one  of  ray  own  church  members,  I  have 
known,  perhaps  more  intimately  than  most,  the  care  which  Miss  Kirkwood  has  expended  on 
her  work.  With  the  greatest  patience  and  fidelity,  consulting  innumerable  sources  of  infor- 
mation, comparing  confiicting  traditions,  and  reaching  the  truth  where  often  it  was  hidden 
and  its  presence  least  suspected,  she  has  gathered  up  the  fi-agments  of  a  most  interesting 
part  of  the  religious  life  of  our  community.  The  Schools  are  happily  identified  with  tlie 
Churches  in  these  valuable  articles.  All  who  are  interested  in  our  Sunday-schools  owe  a  debt 
of  gratitude  to  this  patient  worker  in  a  new  field.    I  wish  this  book  might  find  its  way  into 

every  home  of  our  church-going  people.  ,^„xt  r.r.Tr. 

.JOHN  RLID. 


COMMENDATIONS    OF   THIS   WORK.   *  u 

From  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  tlie  Reformed  Church  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 

September  13,  1889. 

Miss  Kirkwood's  History  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  speaks  for  itself  as  a  monu- 
ment to  a  tireless  industry  and  perseverance. 

It  surpasses  wonder  that  at  this  late  date  the  early  facts  of  our  older  schools— two  over 
sixty  years  old,  one  about  fifty,  a  fourth  is  forty,  and  two  others  more  than  thirty— have  been 
brought  together  and  recorded  with  so  much  of  fulness  and  such  self-satisfying  accuracy. 

The  courage  with  which  this  history  was  begun,  the  perseverance  with  which  it  has 
been  carried  on,  the  fulness  and  accuracy  of  the  results  that  have  been  recorded,  reflect  great 
credit  upon  the  compiler.  A  little  later  on  in  time  this  work  would  have  been  impossible. 
Our  lovers  of  Sunday-schools  are  brought  under  special  obligation  by  the  respected  and  faith- 
ful compiler  of  this  work. 

I  cheerfully  give  my  own  subscription  for  the  forthcoming  book,  and  shall  be  glad  to 
find  that  it  is  generally  taken  by  the  Christian  people  of  our  city. 
DAVID  COLE, 

I  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Yonkers. 


From  Rev.  A.  B.  Carver. 

St.  John's  Rectory,  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  June  22, 1888. 

Miss  Kirkwood:— You  certainly  deserve  much  credit  for  your  enthusiasm  and  practical 
interest  in  the  Sunday-school  work  of  Yonkers.  All  who  read  your  book  will  be  well 
informed  in  this  important  part  of  our  Church  work,  and  will  certainly  wish  for  it  a  large 
circulation.  Sincerely  yours, 

ALEX.  B.  CARVER,  Rector  of  St.  John's  Clmrch. 

From  Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D. 

Yonkers,  September  10, 1889. 
I  most  cordially  concur  with  the  above  recommendation. 

WM.  H.  MILLS,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's. 

From  Rev.  James  T.  Bixby,  Ph.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Congregational  Church,  Yonkers. 

Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  December  27, 1888. 
I  find  that  your  account  of  the  Churches  and  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  makes  a  very 
interesting  and  valuable  history.    You  have  shown  very  great  indu.stry,  and  all  interested  in 
the  religious  life  of  the  city  of  Yonkers  ought  to  appreciate  your  faithful  work.    I  hope  your 
book  will  receive  the  welcome  it  deserves. 

Yours  cordially, 

JAMES  T.  BIXBY. 

From  Rev.  C.  W.  Millard,  Formerly  Pastor  of  Central  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Yonkers. 
28  Hawthorne  Avenue,  February  25, 1888. 
Miss  A.  E.  Kirkwood:— Your  faithful,  painstaking  labors  as  Sunday-school  historian 
of  Yonkers  are  receiving,  as  they  deserve,  the  praise  of  appreciative  mind.s.    You  arc  doing  a 
needed  work  remarkably  well. 

Yours  fraternally, 

C.  W.  MILLARD. 

From  Rev.  De  Los  Lull,  Formerly  Pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Yonkers, 
and  author  of  "  Father  Solon;  or.  The  Helper  Helped." 

AsBURY  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Washington  Square,  N.  Y.,  June  28, 1888. 
I  am  pleased  that  you  are  having  so  much  encouragement  to  put  your  papers  on  the 
Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  in  book  form.  I  feel  that  by  so  doing  you  will  render  valiial)Ie 
service  to  the  general  work,  by  the  example  of  preserving  local  Sunday-school  histories,  by 
lifting  local  work  and  workers  into  a  measure  of  prominence,  iind  by  the  stimulus  so  doing 
will  give  to  Churches,  Schools,  and  Sunday-school  workers  an  impuls^e  to  try  to  do  good  work 
for  permanent  public  record.  As  a  specimen  of  what  may  be  done  for  every  town  in  this 
line,  your  book  should  have  a  wide  circulation.  Put  me  down  as  a  subscriber. 
1  remain  as  ever  yours  sincerely, 

DE  LOS  LULL. 


12  COMMENDATIONS   OF   THIS   WORK. 

From  Rev.  George  E.  Stkobridge,  D.  D. 

YONKERS,  September  11, 1889. 
Miss  Kirkwood  is  deserving  the  liberal  patronage  of  this  community  as  a  reward  for 
the  thoroughness  and  fidelity  with  which  she  has  treated  the  interesting  subject  herewith 
presented. 

Her  patience,  industry,  and  indefatigable  research  will  doubtless  be  appreciated  as 
their  fruit  appears  in  these  interesting  pages,  and  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  book  will  have 
the  large  sale  it  so  richly  merits. 

G.  E.  STROBRIDGE, 

Pastor  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

From  Rev.  Henry  M.  Sanders,  Formerly  Pastor  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church, 
Yonkers. 

433  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  June  16, 1888. 

I  have  read  your  articles  on  the  history  of  the  Sunday  schools  in  Yonkers,  giving  espe- 
cial attention  to  those  relating  to  the  Baptist  Church.  So  far  as  my  personal  knowledge 
extends  I  find  them  accurate  and  comprehensive. 

They  are  written  in  au  interesting  and  impressive  manner  and  ought  to  stimulate 
increased  effort  in  a  department  of  Christian  work  which  in  its  history  has  been  a  veritable 
"romance  of  Providence." 

AVishing  you  success  in  the  lurther  prosecution  of  your  work, 

1  am  yours  sincerely, 

HENRY  M.  SANDERS. 
From  Rev.  Alvah  S.  Hobakt,  d.  D. 

Yonkers,  September  14,  1889. 

Miss  Agnes  Kirkwood:— Allow  me  to  say  that  your  efforts  in  preserving  the  items  of 
Church  and  Sunday-school  history  in  Yonkers  are  commendable  and  worthy  of  recognition. 
ALVAH  S.  HOBART, 

Pastor  of  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Yonkers. 

The  writer  has  also  received  commendatory  notices  of  lier  work  from 

The  Rt.  Rev.  William  F.  Nichol,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Albert  Woodruff,  President  of  the  Foreign  Sunday-school  Association. 

Rev.  James  A.  Worden,  D.  D.,  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school  and  Missionary 
Department  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  and  Sabbath-school  work. 

Rev.  Abeam  Beach  Carter.  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  A.  B.  Atkins,  D.  D.,  former  rectors  of 
St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers. 

Rev.  DwiGHT  M.  Seward,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  former  pastors  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Yonkers. 

Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter  and  Rev.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore,  former  pastors  of 
the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  Ycnkers. 

Rev.  A.  A.  Livermore,  D.  D.,  President  of  Meadville  Theological  School,  Pa.,  and  for- 
mer pastor  ot  the  Unitarian  Congregational  Church,  Yonkers. 

Rev.  Augustus  Ulmann,  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Yonkers. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Crafts,  pastor  of  the  First  Union  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York. 

Rev.  Theodore  J.  Wylie,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  in  Philadelpliia. 

Also  a  number  of  Sabbath  school  superintendents  and  teachers. 


GONa^RNTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Extracts  from  Church  History— St.  John's  Church  and  Sunday-school 15 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Mile  Square  Sunday-school 63 

CHAPTER  III. 

St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  (at  Tuckahoe)  and  Sunday-school 68 

CHAPTER  IV. 

First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Yonkers  (at  Tuckahoe)  and  Sunday- 
school 71 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Sunday-school 75 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Reformed  Church  and  Sunday-school 115 

CHAPTER  VII. 

St.  Mary's  Roman-catholic  Church,  Parish,  and  Sunday-school 150 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  (formerly  Mount  Olivet  Baptist)  and 

Sunday-school 167 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday-school 212 

CHAPTER  X. 

The   Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday-school 262 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  First  Unitarian  Congregational  Church  and  Sunday-school 313 

CHAPTER  XII. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  and  Sunday-school 327 


14  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  Sunday-school 347 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Woodhill  Union  Chapel  Sunday-scliool 375 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Central  Methodist  Church  and  Sunday-school 380 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church  and  Sunday-school 398 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

St.  John's  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  and  Sunday-school 408 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Christ  Episcopal  Church  and  Siuiday-school 416 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  St.  Joseph's  Roman-catholic  Church  and  Parish  Schools 432 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church  and  Sunday-school 438 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Messiah  Baptist  Colored  Church  and  Sunday-school 473 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Glenwood  Summer  Sunday-school 486 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Sunday-school 487 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Ludlow  Street  Chapel  (Mission  of  the  Reformed  Church)  Sunday-school  494 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  Immanuel  Chapel  (Mission  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church)  Sunday- 
school 502 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

A  Few  Words  in  Conclusion 514 

Appendix 521 


AND 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK 

IN   YONKERS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

EXTRACTS     FROM     CHURCH     HISTORY — ST.     JOHN'S     CHURCH 
AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In  giving  the  origin  of  Church  and  Sunday-school 
work  in  Yonkers  it  appears  proper  to  state  by  whom  and 
when  the  first  religious  effort  was  put  forth  and  each  suc- 
cessive step  which  led  to  the  organization  of  the  first 
Church  and  Sunday-school.  This  will  be  shown  in  the 
following  interesting  extracts  taken  from  Robert  Bolton's 
"  History  of  the  Church  in  Westchester  County." 

In  the  year  1642  (says  the  historian  of  the  "  New 
Netherlands")  Mr.  John  Throckmorton  and  thirty-five 
associates,  who  had  been  driven  by  the  fiery  Hugh  Peters, 
with  Roger  Williams,  from  Massachusetts,  procured  per- 
mission from  the  Dutch  authorities  of  New  York  to  settle 
some  twelve  miles  east  of  the  Manhattans,  at  a  place  called 
Westchester,  but  which  the  Dutch  at  the  time  named 
Vredeland,  or  Land  of  Peace,  a  meet  appellation  for  the 
spot  selected  as  a  place  of  refuge  by  those  who  were 
bruised  and  broken  down  by  religious  persecution. 

In  his  petition  to  the  Dutch  authorities  on  the  2d  of 
October,  1642,  he  solicits  permission  to  settle  down  within 
the  limits  of  the  New  Netherlands.  "There  I  wish  to 
reside  in  peace  and  enjoy  the  same  privileges  as  Dutch 
subjects,  and  to  be  favored  with  the  free  exercise  of  reli- 


l6  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

gion."  But  even  here  the  persecuted  Puritan  was  destined 
to  find,  like  the  dove  of  Noah's  ark,  no  place  on  which  to 
rest  the  sole  of  his  foot,  for  here  it  was  that  several  mem- 
bers of  his  family  fell  in  the  Indian  massacre  which  took 
place  on  the  6th  of  October,  1643. 

The  next  settlement  in  Vredeland  was  upon  the  site 
of  the  village  of  Westchester  in  1654.  At  this  early  period 
public  worship  appears  to  have  been  regularly  established 
according  to  the  Independent  or  Congregational  order. 

The  Rev.  John  Megapolensis  in  a  letter  to  the  Classis 
of  Amsterdam,  dated  the  5th  of  August,  1657,  says:  "The 
inhabitants  of  this  place — Oost-dorp  or  Westchester — are 
Puritans,  alias  Independents.  They  have  no  preacher,  but 
they  hold  Sunday  meetings,  reading  from  an  English  book 
a  sermon  and  making  a  prayer."  The  Dutch  Commissions 
visited  them  in  December,  1656,  and  reported  their  mode  of 
worship  as  follows :  "After  dinner  Cornelius  Van  Ruyven 
went  to  the  house  where  they  held  their  Sunday  meeting 
to  see  their  mode  of  worship.  There  I  found  a  gathering 
of  about  fifteen  men  and  ten  or  twelve  women.  Mr.  Baly 
said  the  prayer,  after  which  Robert  Bassett  read  from  a 
printed  book  a  sermon  composed  by  an  English  clergy- 
man. After  the  reading  Mr.  Baly  gave  out  another  prayer 
and  sang  a  Psalm,  and  they  all  separated." 

All  ecclesiastical  business  at  this  period  was  conducted 
by  the  town  assembled  in  town  meeting.  After  having 
disposed  of  secular  matters  they  attended  to  the  business 
of  the  church ;  therefore  the  early  history  of  religion  was 
found  principally  in  the  town  records. 

Under  date  of  July  29,  1674,  twenty  years  after,  appears 
the  name  of  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Fogge,  probably  the  first 
Independent  minister  that  officiated  at  that  place.  The 
following  was  taken  from  the  town  books : 

"On  the  nth  of  February,  1680,  there  was  sprinkled 
with  water  by  Morgan  Jones  (what  they  call  baptizing), 
William  Hunt,  son  of  John  Hunt,  of  Westchester.  Wit- 
nesses present,  Joseph  Hunt  and  Bridget  Waters." 

The  English  laying  claim  to  New  Netherlands,  it  was 
surrendered  to  them  by  the  Dutch  in  1664.  The  first 
English    governor,    Richard    NicoUs,    for   the   encourage- 


ST.    JOHN'S   CHURCH.  I7 

ment  of  settlers  published  an  instrument  in  which  he  de- 
clared "  in  all  territories  of  His  Royal  Highness  liberty  of 
conscience  is  allowed,  provided  such  liberty  is  not  con- 
verted into  licentiousness  or  the  disturbance  of  others  in 
the  exercise  of  the  Protestant  religion." 

Immediately  after  the  surrender  it  became  a  matter  of 
indispensable  and  pressing  necessity  that  laws  and  ordi- 
nances should  be  passed  adapted  for  the  then  condition  of 
the  colony.  Whereupon  Gov.  Nicolls  invited  the  inhab- 
itants of  Westchester  and  other  towns  upon  Long  Island 
to  send  delegates  to  a  general  meeting  at  Hempstead  on 
the  28th  of  February,  1665. 

The  convention  met  at  the  time  appointed. 

At  this  meeting  a  body  of  laws  and  ordinances  was 
promulgated  for  the  future  government  of  the  province, 
which  were  called  by  way  of  distinction  "The  Duke's 
Laws." 

Among  the  principal  provisions  of  the  code  are  the 
following  : 

"  Whereas  the  public  worship  of  God  is  much  discred- 
ited for  the  want  of  painful  and  able  ministers  to  instruct 
the  people  in  true  religion,  and  for  want  of  convenient 
places  capable  to  receive  any  assembly  of  people  in  a  de- 
cent manner  for  celebrating  God's  holy  ordinances, 

"  Ordered,  that  a  church  shall  be  built  in  the  most 
convenient  part  of  each  parish  capable  to  receive  and 
accommodate  two  hundred  persons.  To  prevent  scandal- 
ous and  ignorant  pretenders  to  the  ministry  from  intruding 
themselves  as  teachers,  no  minister  shall  be  admitted  to 
officiate  within  the  Government  but  such  as  shall  produce 
testimonials  to  the  Governor  that  he  received  ordination 
either  from  some  Protestant  bishop  or  ministers,  within 
some  part  of  His  Majesty's  dominions  or  the  dominions  of 
any  foreign  prince  of  the  reformed  religion  ;  upon  which 
testimonials  the  Governor  shall  induct  the  said  minister 
into  the  parish  that  shall  make  presentation  of  him." 

"  The  Duke's  Laws  "  continued  to  govern  the  province 
until  the  first  Provincial  Assembly  in  1683.  At  this  time 
the  dissenting  teachers  officiated.  Such,  however,  was  the 
fearful  progress  of  Sabbath-breaking  and  other  profanities 


1 8  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

that  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  Westchester  County  issued 
the  following  proclamation,  1693  : 

"  Upon  complaint  made  to  the  Court,  concerning  greate 
disorders  and  prophainness  in  the  County  upon  the  Sabbath 
days,  and  for  regulation  and  prevention  of  the  same,  the 
Court  orders  that 

"  Whereas  the  publick  worshipp  of  God  is  much  neg 
lected,  for  want  of  able  ministers  to  instruct  the  people 
every  Sabbath  day  and  on  such  publick  days  of  fasting  and 
thanksgiving  that  are  appointed,  or  shall  hereafter  be  ap- 
pointed, by  His  Excellancy,  the  Governor  and  Council,  and 
General  Assembly ; 

"And  whereas  we  find  that  severall  places  within 
this  County  are  not  in  a  capacity  to  maintaine  a  minister, 
whereby  great  debaucheries  and  prophainness  are  com- 
mitted on  the  Lord's  days,  and  that  parents  and  masters 
of  families  doe  not  traine  up  youths  and  servants  in  the 
feare  of  God  and  observing  His  holy  Commandments, 
although  His  Excellancy  hath  taken  speedy  care,  after  his 
arrivall,  for  the  suppressing  of  vice  and  encouragement  of 
virtue  and  observance  of  the  Lord's  day,  and  by  his  pro- 
clamation, which  hath  beene  published  in  this  County,  yett 
very  many  takes  noe  notice  thereof ; 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  yett  within  every  Towne  pre- 
cinct and  pattent  within  this  County  due  observance  of  the 
Lord's  day  shall  be  kept,  and  for  want  of  an  able  minister 
the  inhabitants  shall  employ  a  reader  to  read  out  of  good 
books,  two  Sermonds  every  Lord's  day,  (that  is  to  say)  one 
in  the  forenoone  betweene  9  and  1 1  o'clock,  and  one  in  the 
afternoone,  betweene  2  and  4  o'clock,  at  such  places  as  shall 
be  thought  meet  and  convenient  by  ye  inhabitants  of  such 
Towne  precinct  and  pattent,  att  a  meeting  ordered  by  the 
next  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  provided  that  if  the  inhabitants 
shall  not  appoynt  such  place  as  aforesaid,  that  then  the 
jiext  Justice  of  the  Peace  shall  appoynt  a  place  ;  and  in  case 
any  person  or  persons  shall  make  derission  or  make  any 
unseemly  behaviour  in  the  time  of  publick  worshipp,  that 
then  the  said  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  said  place  or  pre- 
cincts shall  committ  all  such  deriders  to  the  stocks  one 
houre,  otherwise  shall  pay  tenn  shillings,  to  be  levyed  by 


ST.   JOHN  S   CHURCH.  I9 

the  constable,  the  one  half  to  ye  constable  and  the  other 
half  to  be  employed  towards  relief  of  the  poor  of  said 
place. 

"  It 's  alsoe  ordered  : 

"  That  noe  person  shall  sitt  tippleing  in  a  publick  orde- 
nary  on  the  Lord's  day,  upon  penalty  as  aforesaid,  or  at 
other  times  on  penalty  as  the  law  directs,  and  that  any 
persons  inhabiting  within  this  County  shall  not  travill  on 
the  Lord's  day,  without  permition  and  make  known  their 
ocation  to  the  next  Justice  of  the  Peace,  upon  penalty  as 
aforesaid,  likewise  noe  person  or  persons  shall  presume  to 
go  a  fishing,  shooting,  or  hunting  of  horses,  or  any  other 
sports  which  makes  breach  of  the  Sabbath,  upon  ye  penalty 
as  aforesaid,  provided,  that  this  order  shall  not  prohibit 
any  stranger  of  meat  and  drinke  for  his  refreshment  on 
the  Sabbath  day. 

"■  Alsoe  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  which  shall  neglect  or 
refuse  to  grant  his  warrant  to  the  constable,  for  laying  such 
fines  upon  the  breakers  of  the  Sabbath,  shall  forfeit  twenty 
shillings  for  every  such  neglect  as  aforesaid,  and  that  the 
constable  of  every  respective  towne  that  shall  publish  this 
order  in  his  respective  place,  precinct  or  pattent,  and  inspect 
and  give  notice  of  all  Sabbath  breakers  to  the  next  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  on  penalty  as  aforesaid,  for  every  such  his 
neglect." 

But  vice  of  every  kind  prevailed  in  spite  of  governors, 
proclamations,  military  orders,  and  judicial  acts,  and  little 
good  seemed  to  be  accomplished  by  non-Episcopal  minis- 
trations ;  and  such  was  the  state  of  affairs  that  the  historian 
says,  "  There  seems  to  have  been  no  face  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  colony." 

Governor  Col.  Fletcher  proposed  a  settling  of  an  able 
ministry  as  one  of  the  best  and  surest  means  of  suppress- 
ing vice  and  profanity.  The  majority  of  the  Assembly 
were  entirely  disinclined  to  the  scheme,  which  occasioned 
a  warm  rebuke  from  the  Governor  in  his  speech  at  the  close 
of  the  Session  in  these  words : 

"  Gentlemen,  the  first  thing  that  I  did  recommend  to 
you,  at  our  last  meeting,  was  to  provide  for  a  ministry,  and 
nothino;  is  done  in  it.      There  are  none  of  you  but  that  are 


20  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

big  with  the  privileges  of  Englishmen  and  Magna  Charta, 
which  is  your  right,  and  the  same  law  doth  provide  for  the 
Religion  of  the  Church  of  England,  against  Sabbath-break- 
ing and  other  profanity.  But  as  you  have  made  it  last  and 
postponed  it  in  this  Session,  I  hope  you  will  begin  it  the 
next  meeting  and  do  somewhat  towards  it  effectually." 

The  determination  of  the  Governor  at  length  induced 
the  house  to  yield,  and  a  "  bill  was  brought  in  for  settling 
the  ministry  and  raising  a  maintenance  for  them."  This 
bill  was  entitled  "An  act  for  settling  a  ministry  and  raising 
a  maintenance  for  them  in  the  city  of  New  York,  counties 
of  Richmond,  Westchester,  Queens.  Passed  the  24th  of 
March,  1693." 

The  act  did  not  take  effect  until  about  the  year  1702. 

In  June  16,  1 701,  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  was  incorporated  by 
royal  charter  from  King  William  III. 

The  principal  object  of  this  society  was:  "To  send 
clergymen  to  the  colonies;  and  the  society  to  earnestly 
request  and  beseech  all  persons  concerned  that  they  recom- 
mend no  man  out  of  favor  or  affection  or  any  other  worldly 
consideration,  but  with  a  sincere  regard  to  the  honor  of 
Almighty  God  and  our  blessed  Saviour  as  they  tender  the 
interest  of  the  Christian  religion  and  the  good  of  men's 
souls." 

Of  this  Society  the  Hon.  Rufus  King  said :  "  The  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagating  of  the  Gospel  is  the  brightest 
light  shining  in  the  candlestick  of  the  Reformation ;  it  has 
done  more  and  is  doing  more  for  the  cause  of  Christ  than 
all  Christendomx  united." 

On  the  seal  of  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  the  oldest  mis- 
sionary society  in  the  Protestant  world,  are  inscribed  these 
words : 

"Sigillvm  Societatis  De  Promovendo  Evangelio  in 
Partibvs  Transmarinis.  The  seal  of  the  Society  for  pro- 
moting the  Gospel  in  lands  beyond  the  sea."  And  under- 
neath these  words :  "  Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  Venerable 
Propagation  Society." 

There  is  also  a  picture  of  a  sailing  vessel  with  the  sails 


ST.    JOHNS    CHURCH.  21 

spread,  and  on  a  flying  pennant,  on  the  main  mast,  is  in- 
scribed, "  Transiens  Adiuvanos." 

Also  a  figure  on  the  seal,  a  mythological  representation 
of  the  sun,  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  seal,  probably  rep- 
resenting the  Sun  of  Righteousness  as  beaming  benig- 
nantly  on  the  missionary  ship.  On  the  prow  of  the  vessel 
a  man  is  standing,  clad  in  a  Bishop's  robe,  with  an  open 
Bible  in  his  hand,  while  on  the  bluff  to  which  the  ship  is 
approaching  there  is  a  group  of  natives  with  beaming  faces 
and  extended  hands  to  welcome  the  missionaries. 

In  regard  to  the  society's  missionaries  sent  to  this 
country,  says  the  historian  :  "  I  believe  the  Christian  Church 
could  never  boast  of  better  men,  take  them  as  a  body. 
They  chose  their  profession  from  a  pure  love  to  religion 
and  the  cause  of  Christ,  not  from  the  love  of  money  or  the 
praise  of  men.  They  sought  for  no  honor  but  that  which 
cometh  alone  from  God  and  an  approving  conscience.  Like 
their  beloved  Master  they  were  despised  and  rejected,  and 
their  religion  was  everywhere  spoken  against  and  vilified. 
As  the  apostles  were  a  spectacle  to  men  and  angels,  so 
were  these  men,  and  if  they  suffered  not  as  martyrs,  it  was 
because  the  civil  authority  protected  them.  They  were 
workers,  not  talkers,  in  their  Lord's  vineyard.  Their  rec- 
ord is  in  heaven. 

"  Yet  even  in  the  little  that  does  remain  we  read  a 
narrative  not  easily  paralleled,  in  at  least  two  noble  fea- 
tures of  the  Church's  Missionaries.  First,  in  their  patient, 
unflinching  endurance  :  the  enthusiasm,  not  of  sentiment, 
but  of  duty ;  taking  hold  on  their  mission,  as  men  do  on 
the  daily  work  of  life,  heartily ;  and  this  was  the  more  to 
their  honor  as  they  had  little  oversight  save  God  and  their 
own  conscience.  And  secondly,  their  unbending  main- 
tenance of  the  Church's  teachings  in  her  faith,  ministry, 
sacraments,  and  catechism. 

"This  again  has  something  in  it  of  the  heroic  strain, 
for  they  were  surrounded  and  pressed  by  every  temptation 
life  could  bring  to  the  concealment  or  modification  of  un- 
popular doctrine.  But  although  feeble  they  were  fearless 
men  ;  their  only  outcry  was  for  a  Bishop  to  '  visit  all  the 
churches,'  they  said,  '  to  ordain  some,  confirm  others,  and 


22  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

bless  all.'  Their  only  quarrel  was  that  he  came  not.  '  We 
have  cried,'  to  use  their  own  bitter  words  in  writing-  home, 
*till  our  hearts  ache,  and  ye  own  'tis  the  call  and  cause  of 
God,  and  yet  ye  have  not  heard  or  have  not  answered,  and 
that 's  all  one.'  " 

As  early  as  1684  Yonkers  appears  to  have  been  associ- 
ated with  Eastchester  and  Westchester  in  the  support  of  a 
minister,  for  on  the  2d  of  April  of  that  year  it  was  resolved, 
at  a  town  meeting  held  in  Westchester,  "  That  the  Justices 
and  Vestrymen  of  Westchester,  Eastchester,  and  Yonkers 
do  accept  of  Mr.  Warham  Mather  as  our  minister  for  one 
whole  year." 

The  first  mention  of  the  parish  of  Yonkers  occurs  in 
an  act  passed  during  the  first  session  of  the  third  Assem- 
bly, 5th  of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  September,  1693. 

The  Rev.  John  Bartow,  A.  M.,  was  one  of  the  first  mis- 
sionaries sent  out  by  the  Venerable  Propagation  vSociety, 
and  the  first  missionary  to  Yonkers.  Among  the  questions 
sent  by  the  Bishop  of  London  to  be  answered  by  the  cler- 
gymen in  the  province  of  New  York  was  the  following : 

Question — "Have  you  more  cures  than  one?  If  you 
have,  what  are  they,  and  in  what  manner  are  they  served  ?" 

To  which  Mr.  Bartow  answered  :  "  I  have  four  towns 
under  my  cure,  Westchester,  Eastchester,  Yonkers,  and 
the  Manor  of  Pelham,  of  which  New  Rochelle  is  a  part,  in 
whose  churches  I  officiate  on  Sundays,  according  to  their 
several  quotas,  on  the  payment  of  ^50  per  annum.  I 
preach  at  Westchester  every  Lord's  day,  excepting  every 
fourth  Sunday  at  Eastchester,  three  times  in  the  year  at 
Yonkers,  and  as  often  as  I  can  at  New  Rochelle." 

To  the  Venerable  Propagation  Society  he  writes  Octo- 
ber 5,  1704,  "At  Younckers  there  is  a  small  congregation 
of  Dutch  who  have  only  a  reader,  and  sometimes  they  go 
to  the  church  at  Westchester." 

In  1702  Rev.  John  Bartow  commenced  his  services 
within  the  precinct  of  Yonkers.  On  September  5,  1708,  he 
writes  to  the  Venerable  Society  that  he  occasionally 
preaches  at  Yonkers,  where  the  population  was  then  250 
souls. 

On  the  4th   of  August,   1705,  another  act  of  General 


ST.   JOHN'S   CHURCH,  23 

Assembly  was  passed — "  An  act  for  the  better  explaining 
and  more  effectual  putting  in  execution  an  act  of  General 
Assembly,  entitled  an  act  for  settling  a  ministry  and  rais- 
ing a  maintenance  for  them  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
Counties  of  Richmond,  Westchester  and  Queen's  County." 
This  act  was  ratified  by  Queen  Anne  on  the  nth  of  April, 
1706. 

That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bartow  was  an  earnest,  indefatiga- 
ble, patient,  and  persevering  worker,  notwithstanding  the 
many  difficulties  which  he  had  to  encounter  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  work,  is  not  only  shown  from  his  own  letters, 
but  from  the  Venerable  Propagation  Society's  abstracts. 
In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Venerable  Society  under 
the  following  date  he  writes : 

"Westchester,  in  New  York,  in  America,  "I 
August  14,  1706.  I 

"  Sir  :  My  great  business  is  to  plant  the  Church  of 
England  among  prejudiced  poor  and  irreligious  people, 
who  are  more  apt  to  receive  than  to  give,  who  think  it  a 
hardship  to  pay  their  dues,  and  we  dare  not  use  the  law 
for  fear  of  bringing  an  odium  on  the  church,  and  on  all 
occasions  expect  to  be  civilly  treated  by  the  minister. 

"  My  task  is  greater  than  I  can  bear ;  I  will  hold  out 
as  long  as  I  can  with  submission  to  the  divine  will,  who 
feedeth  the  fowls  of  the  air;  trusting  he  will  still  feed 
me,  by  your  means,  when  you  come  to  be  sensible  of  our 
wants. 

"  Worthy  sir,  your  most  devoted  and  obliged  servant, 

"  JOHN  BARTOW." 

Then,  under  date  of  Westchester,  in  the  province  of 
New  York,  in  America,  ist  December,  1707,  he  writes: 

"  I  have  inhabited  ever  since  in  the  conscientious  dis- 
charge of  my  duty,  hardly  ever  missing  to  officiate  on  the 
Lord's  day  in  my  parish,  and  have  discharged  that  duty  in 
the  Jerseys  at  Rye  or  at  some  other  place. 

"  I  have  always  been  ready  to  visit  the  sick  when  sent 
for,  and  before  frequently,  if  I  knew  of  it,  not  refusing  in 
time  of  very  mortal  diseases,  which  we  have  frequently  had 
since  I  came  here,  frequently  riding  day  and  night  more 
than  ten  miles,  I  may  say  twenty. 


24  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  I  have  administered  the  sacrament  of  Baptism  to  a 
great  number  of  people,  young  and  old,  and  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  publickly,  three  times  a  year,  at  the 
three  usual  feasts,  Christmas,  Easter,  and  Whitsunday,  and 
have  administered  it  to  many  on  their  sick  and  dying  beds 
who  never  received  it  before. 

"  I  take  care  to  catechise  the  children  in  the  church 
and  to  make  amends  for  an  omission  of  that  duty  at  any 
time.  I  allow  a  schoolmaster  twenty  shillings  per  annum 
to  encourage  him  to  instruct  the  children  in  the  Church 
Catechism. 

"  And  if  I  have  failed  in  any  part  of  my  duty  (as  it 
seems  you  are  informed),  let  me  know  it  in  your  next,  that 
I  may  amend, 

"  Your  most  humble  and  obliged  servant, 

"JOHN  BARTOW." 

Mr.  Bartow,  writing  to  the  secretary  of  the  Venerable 
Propagation  Society  on  the  12th  of  September,  171 7,  says, 
"  Yonkers  has  no  church,  but  we  assemble  for  divine  wor- 
ship, sometimes  in  an  house  of  Joseph  Bebits,  deceased, 
and  sometimes  in  a  barn  when  empty,  but  the  people 
begin  to  be  in  a  disposition  to  build  a  church." 

In  1 71 3  the  Propagation  Society  founded  a  charity 
school  for  the  education  of  children  in  this  town.  The 
same  year  £^  per  annum  is  granted  to  a  schoolmaster  in 
Yonkers,  where  there  is  a  large  congregation  of  Dutch  and 
English,  for  instructing  the  younger  sort  in  the  catechism 
and  liturgy,  provided  he  can  produce  a  certificate  of  his 
teaching  thirty  children.  A.  D.  1719  Mr.  Jones  was  allowed 
fifty  shillings  for  teaching  children  to  read  at  Mile  Square. 

From  the  secretary's  report  of  the  Venerable  Propaga- 
tion Society  the  following  extract  is  taken  : 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Bartow,  who  is  a  very  good  man,  does  do 
great  service  to  the  church.  He  has  baptized  twenty-two 
persons,  one  an  ancient  woman,  and  sometimes  preaches  at 
a  place  called  Lower  Younckers." 

In  the  year  1724  Mr.  Bartow  informs  the  Bishop  of 
London  that  he  "  officiates  on  Sundays  in  the  four  towns 
under  his  care,  and  he  preaches  three  times  a  year  at 
Younckers." 


ST.    JOHN'S   CHURCH.  2$ 

Rev.  John  Bartow  died  at  Westchester  in  1725.  His 
remains,  according  to  the  custom  of  that  day,  were  interred 
under  the  communion-table  in  the  old  Parish  of  St.  Peter. 
Since  the  removal  of  that  ancient  edifice,  however,  nothing 
serves  distinctly  to  mark  the  site  of  his  tomb,  but  one  thing 
is  certain,  "  that  He  who  was  with  him  in  his  last  hour  and 
made  his  bed  in  his  sickness,  will  watch  over  the  precious 
dust  till  He  shall  bid  it  rise." 

"  So  pious,  just,  and  even,  as  if  he  meant 
His  name  should  be  his  marble  monument." 

"  Mr.  Bartow,"  says  Dr.  Hawkins,  **  continued  in  the 
discharge  of  his  important  duties  for  the  long  period  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  the  instrument  of  bringing 
many  separatists  back  to  the  church,  and  admitting  into  it 
many  hitherto  careless  adults.  He  likewise  gave  much  of 
his  time  to  the  instruction  of  the  poor  negroes.  By  such 
long  and  faithful  services  he  secured  the  general  esteem  of 
his  people." 

Rev.  Mr.  Bartow  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Standard,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  in  1725. 

"  Rev.  John  Bartow  and  Rev.  Thomas  Standard  were 
the  rectors  of  St.  Peter's,  the  Westchester,  or  parent 
church,  and  Yonkers  was  then  simply  missionary  ground. 
The  former  became  rector  of  St.  Peter's  in  1702,  and  died 
in  1725,  and  the  latter  was  inducted  in  1725,  and  died  in 
1759  or  1760. 

"  It  was  during  Rev.  Mr.  Standard's  rectorship  of  St. 
Peter's  and  missionary  work  here  that  the  first  Yonkers 
church  building  was  erected."     (1752.) 

To  the  parish  of  St.  Peter's  Yonkers  was  missionary 
ground  till  the  year  1787. 

St.  John's  Church  was  first  incorporated  on  September 
15,  1787,  under  the  Act  of  1784.  Augustus  Van  Cortlandt, 
Israel  Honeywell,  Jr.,  and  J.  Warner  were  appointed  trus- 
tees. In  accordance  with  the  Act  passed  for  the  relief  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  March  17,  1795,  it  was  again  organ- 
ized on  September  7  of  the  same  year:  Augustus  Van 
Cortlandt  and  William  Constable,  church  wardens;  John 
Warner,   Thomas  Valentine,   Isaac  Vermilyea,    Frederick 


26 


CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


Underhill,  Shadrach  Taylor,  Isaac  Lawrence,  Stephen  Oak- 
ley, and  Jacob  Post,  vestrymen.  St.  John's  Church  was 
first  represented  in  tl,ie  Diocese  of  New  York  in  1787. 


ST.  JOHN  S  CHURCH,  CONSECRATED   I792. 


First  church  was  built  by  the  Hon.  Frederick  Philipse. 
Commenced  in  November,  1752;  finished  December,  1753. 
Amount  expended,  ^^625,  6s.  gd. 

Hon.  Frederick  Philipse  was  buried  in  the  family 
vault  in  the  Dutch  Church  at  Sleepy  Hollow,  Tarrytown, 
N.  Y.,  July  28,  1 75 1. 

The  tower,  the  roof  and  w^oodwork  of  the  original 
structure  were  destroyed  by  an  accidental  fire  May,  1791. 
In  1792  it  was  restored  in  the  precise  original  outward 
form,  and  on  the  21st  of  August  of  that  year  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  Almighty  God  under  the  name  and  title 
of  St.  John's  Church,  Philipsburgh,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Samuel  Provoost,  first  bishop  of  New  York. 

In  the  vestry-room  of  the  present  St.  John's  Church 
is  a  frame  containing  the  certificate  of  the  consecration  of 
St.  John's  Church  in  the  handwriting  of  Bishop  Provoost, 
as  follows : 

"  Be  it  known  unto  all  Men  by  these  Presents  that  I, 
Samuel  Provoost,  by  Divine  Permission  Bishop  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in   the  State  of  New  York, 


ST.   JOHN  S   CHURCH.  2/ 

on  the  first  Day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety -two,  did  consecrate  to 
the  Honor  and  Service  of  Almighty  God  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  St.  John  in  the  Town  of  Yonkers,  in  the  County 
of  Westchester,  and  do  hereby  publickly  and  openly  de- 
clare and  pronounce  the  said  Church  to  be  separated  from 
all  profane  and  common  uses. 

"  Given   under  my    Hand   and   Seal   at   the   town   of 
Yonkers  this  first  Day  of  August,  Anno 
[l.  s.]       Domino  1792  and  of  my  consecration,  the 
Sixth. 

"SAMUEL  PROVOOST." 

For  some  time  after  building  the  church  the  precinct 
had  no  settled  clerg37man,  but  was  supplied  four  times  a 
year  by  the  rectors  of  the  parish  and  by  occasional  visits 
of  the  neighboring  clergy. 

In  October,  1761,  Rev.  John  Milner  succeeds.  Manse 
built  on  Sawmill  River,  and  glebe  fenced,  250  acres— now 
St.  John's*  and  Oakland  Cemeteries. 

Mr.  Milner  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Harry  Munro, 
A.  M.,  who  accepted  the  charge  of  the  mission  at  Yonkers 
Whitsunday  in  the  spring  of  1765.  He  resigned  and  in 
1768  accepted  a  call  to  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albany. 

In  1 77 1  Rev.  Luke  Babcock  was  appointed  to  the 
rectorship  of  the  parish.  Of  him  the  Venerable  Society's 
abstracts  for  1 77 1  say : 

"  The  clergy  of  New  York  recommend  the  Rev.  Luke 
Babcock,  who  was  lately  ordained  here  by  the  Bishop  of 
London,  as  a  proper  person  for  Missionary." 

Mr.  Babcock  was  accordingly  appointed  to  the  mission 
with  a  salary  of  thirty  pounds,  and  he  labored  at  Yonkers 
with  very  good  success  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  when  he  openly  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Government. 

*  The  first  interment  on  record  in  St.  John's  Cemetery  occurred  in 
1783,  and  is  that  of  Richard  Archer.  The  next  was  tlie  daughter  of  Rev. 
Luke  Babcock,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church.  And  among  other  memorials 
are  those  of  "  Miss  Susannah  Howland,  born  in  Boston,  1753  ;  died  in 
Greenburgh,  1823,  aged  73  years,"  and  also  that  of  "  Lemuel  Wells,  Esq  , 
born  in  the  city  of  Hartford  ;  mar.  Eliza  H.;  died  Feb.  nth,  1842,  aged  82." 


28  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

In  1775  he  was  one  of  the  protestors  at  White  Plains 
against  the  Whigs.  The  protest  was  signed  by  three  hun- 
dred and  twelve  persons.  The  names  of  Frederick  Phil- 
ipse,  Isaac  Wilkins,  and  Samuel  Seabury  precede  that  of 
Mr.  Babcock.  Amidst  the  succeeding  disorder  and  con- 
fusion he  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Venerable 
Society  : 

"Philipsburgh,  22  March,  1776. 

"  Rev.  Sir  :  Soon  after  the  receipt  of  your  letter  the 
troubles  of  this  Country  were  multiplied.  There  was  the 
fever  excited  in  men's  minds  by  the  late  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton, then  the  affairs  of  Bunker  Hill  next  came,  and  the 
Continental  Fast,  which  may  be  considered  as  a  trial  by 
ordeal  of  the  ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  in 
America. 

"My  refusal  to  bow  down  before  an  altar  the  Congress 
has  raised  made  it  necessary  to  confine  myself  to  my  own 
parish  till  the  packets  were  discontinued,  and  I  have  been 
threatened  with  mutilation  and  death  if  I  go  into  New 
England. 

"The  people  of  this  province  in  general  are  forced 
into  the  present  unhappy  contest;  but  as  things  are  cir- 
cumstanced, I  could  hardly  expect  it  should  be  better  than 
it  is  at  present. 

"  I  am,  Rev.  Sir, 

"LUKE  BABCOCK." 

Mr.  Inglis,  in  his  historical  notices  of  the  missions  of 
the  Church  of  England,  says : 

"  Mr.  Seabury  and  Mr.  Beardsly  have  been  obliged  to 
fly  from  their  missions.  These  calamities  have  been  the 
principal  cause  of  the  death  of  one  very  worthy  missionary, 
Mr.  Babcock  of  Philipsburgh. 

"  This  clergyman  was  not  only  exemplary  in  his  life 
and  assiduous  in  his  pastoral  duty,  but  distinguished  by 
his  steady  loyalty  and  warm  attachment  to  our  constitu- 
tion in  Church  and  State. 

"  This  naturally  marked  him  out  as  an  object  of  the 
highest  resentment  to  the  rebels.     He  was  seized  and  car- 


ST.   JOHN'S   CHURCH.  29 

ried  off  a  prisoner  to  Hartford,  Conn.  Here  he  was  de- 
tained in  custody  from  October,  1776,  to  February,  1777. 

"  About  the  first  of  February  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
as  his  confinement  had  produced  no  change  in  his  senti- 
ments, he  was  dismissed  with  a  written  order  to  remove 
within  ten  days  within  the  lines  of  the  King's  army.  He 
got  home  with  difficulty,  in  a  raging  fever,  and  delirious. 
In  this  state  he  continued  about  a  week  (the  greatest  part 
of  the  time  delirious),  and  then  died,  extremely  regretted. 
Indeed  I  know  not  a  more  excellent  man,  and  I  fear  his 
loss,  particularly  in  that  mission,  will  scarcely  be  made 
up." 

Rev.  Mr.  Babcock  died  in  the  old  parsonage,  on  Tues- 
day, the  loth  of  February,  1777,  and  a  monumental  tablet 
was  placed  in  the  church  to  his  memory  by  the  congrega- 
tion. 

The  Rev.  George  Panton,  A.  M.,  was  the  next  minister 
and  continued  in  the  service  of  the  church  until  1782. 

"  As  the  attention  of  the  people  was  called  off  from  the 
church  by  the  din  of  surrounding  war  and  as  the  support 
annually  received  from  England  by  the  Episcopal  clergy 
was  cut  off  by  the  separation  of  this  country  from  England, 
the  parish  was  neglected  for  some  time  after  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Rev.  George  Panton  in  1782. 

"  No  clergyman  was  called  and  settled  for  seven  years. 
Ministers  of  different  denominations  were  permitted  to  take 
the  pulpit  during  this  melancholy  scene  of  disorder  and 
distress.  The  church  suffered  from  various  causes,  the 
people  became  careless  in  their  morals,  from  the  influence 
of  the  example  of  the  armies  around  them  and  from  the 
want  of  an  opportunity  to  acquire  even  a  common  educa- 
tion. 

"  The  distress  of  the  people  was  greater  than  is  com- 
monly imagined.  It  is  said  by  the  old  inhabitants  that 
frequently  the  wealthiest  farmers  were  deprived  by  the 
plunderers  of  the  army  of  what  was  absolutely  fiecessary 
for  supplying  the  daily  wants  of  their  families. 

"  It  was  at  this  period  that  the  minister  of  the  Dutch 
church  at  Tarrytown  attempted  to  gain  possession  of  the 
church  and  annex  it  to  his  own,  but  he  was  unsuccessful. 


30  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  Mr.  Van  Cortlandt,  a  descendant  of  Frederick  Phil- 
ipse,  first  lord  of  the  manor  at  Philipsburgh,  procured  an 
extract  from  Mr.  Philipse's  will  from  which  it  appeared 
that  the  property  was  given  for  the  building  of  an  Episco- 
pal church,  and  other  documents  being  produced  proved 
that  the  church  had  been  built  in  compliance  with  the  will, 
and  that  no  other  service  had  ever  been  regularly  per- 
formed in  it.  This  fortunately  determined  the  point  in 
debate. 

"In  1784  Mr.  Fowler  (afterwards  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Fowler)  collected  the  congregation  and  was  the  first  one 
who  read  prayers  and  sermons  in  the  church  after  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

"  During  this  period  the  rectory  continued  to  be  occu- 
pied by  the  widow  of  Rev.  Luke  Babcock  and  his  children, 
who  were  very  active  in  persuading  the  people  to  attend 
the  service  in  the  church. 

"  In  the  fields  adjoining  the  old  rectory,  formerly  called 
'  Babcock  house,'  were  frequently  garrisoned  the  troops  of 
both  armies.  The  British  cavalry  were  stationed  there  for 
some  time  during  the  winter  of  1780.  A  gang  of  six  or 
eight  cowboys  broke  open  the  rectory  and  robbed  the  de- 
fenceless ladies  of  everything  valuable. 

"  The  confiscation  of  the  manor  of  Philipsburgh,  inclu- 
ding church  property,  occurred  in  1785.  After  the  confisca- 
tion of  Manor  Hall  the  State  of  New  York  very  generously 
ordered  that  all  the  land  then  in  the  possession  of  the  widow 
of  Luke  Babcock  should  be  reserved  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  designed,  and  that  the  church,  with  two  acres 
of  land  adjoining  it,  should  be  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of 
said  church. 

"This  act  was  first  passed  the  first  of  May,  1786,  but 
not  being  carried  into  speedy  execution  by  the  commission- 
ers, another  act  was  passed  the  third  of  April,  1792,  as 
follows : 

" '  That  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  claim,  and 
demand  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  and  to 
the  said  parsonage  or  glebe  shall  be  and  hereby  are  granted 
to  and  vested  in  the  Corporation  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  Town  of  Yonkers,  County  of  Westchester,  and  State  of 


ST.   JOHN  S   CHURCH. 


31 


New  York,  and  their  successors  for  ever,  for  the  use  of  said 
corporation.'  " 


ST.    JOHN'S   RECTORY  AND   GLEBE,    1809. 

During  Mr.  Panton's  ministry  the  country  was  very 
much  disturbed  by  the  ravages  of  the  American  Revolution, 
and  the  parish,  being  alternately  occupied  by  the  British 
and  American  forces,  felt  the  sad  effects  of  the  war.  The 
church  was  used  at  intervals  by  both  armies  as  a  hospital 
during  the  Revolution. 

"  The  site  of  the  original  glebe  is  now  centrally  repre- 
sented by  the  combined  areas  of  St.  John's  and  Oakland 
Cemeteries.  The  site  of  this  rectory  and  its  outbuildings 
was  near  the  Sawmill  River  road.  The  rectory  stood  within 
the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  pretty  grove  of  trees  near  the 
road  and  directly  opposite  the  large  carpet  factory  of  Alex- 
ander Smith's  Sons.  From  the  setting  apart  of  the  glebe 
till    1845  the  church  rectors  lived  upon  it.     At  that  time 


32  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

it  was  sold,  of  course  for  an  amount  that  would  now  be 
deemed  trifling,  and  with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  the  pres- 
ent rectory,  within  the  church  grounds,  was  built.  The 
only  land  now  owned  by  St.  John's  Church  is  St.  John's 
Cemetery  and  the  plot  on  which  their  church,  rectory,  and 
Sunday-school  building  stand.  " 

scharf's  history  of  vvkstchester  county,  1886. 

The  parish  remained  destitute  of  preaching  until  the 
year  1789,  when  the  Rev.  Elias  Cooper,  A.  M.,  succeeded 
Mr.  Panton.  Mr.  Cooper  was  rector  of  the  church  for  twen- 
ty-seven years.  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  organized  and  taught 
a  school  during  his  pastorate.  The  schoolhouse  is  shown 
in  the  picture  of  the  rectory  and  glebe  as  they  were  in  1809. 
It  stands  immediately  south  of  the  rectory. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cooper  died  January  16,  18 16,  and  his  remains 
were  interred  in  the  burying-ground  belonging  to  this 
parish,  now  St.  John's  Cemetery.  A  memorial  tablet  was 
also  placed  in  the  church. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  William  Powell, 
A.  M.,  who  took  pastoral  charge  in  May,  18 16.  He  resigned 
the  loth  of  August,  18 19,  having  officiated  here  only  a  few 
months  over  three  years. 

Rev.  John  Grigg,  A.  M.,  succeeded  Mr.  Powell  in  1820, 
and  resigned  August,  1823. 

On  the  17th  of  October  of  the  same  year  the  vestry 
gave  a  call  to  the  Rev.  John  West,  A.  M.,  and  it  was  during 
his  rectorship  that  the  Sunday-school  was  founded. 

Thus  it  is  shown  by  the  foregoing  historical  church 
records  that  to  the  Church  of  England  was  given  the  privi- 
lege and  honor  of  putting  forth  the  first  religious  effort,  of 
Iniilding  a  Church,  and  of  starting  the  first  Sunday-school  in 
Yonkers. 

The  Rev.  John  West  resigned  his  rectorship  in  the 
year  1828,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton Crosby,  A.  M.,  who  served  ten  years,  dying  in  the 
rectorship  January  4,  1839.  He  is  still  represented  in  the 
congregation  by  his  own  descendants.  He  was  a  devoted 
pastor  and  greatly  beloved  by  his  congregation. 

The  following  brief  extract  taken  from  a  sermon 
preached  in  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers,  on  Sunday,  March 


ST,   JOHN'S   CHURCH. 


33 


lo.  1839,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  William  Harris,  D.  D.,  of 
White  Plains,  is  of  interest  in  connection  with  his  work  in 
this  church  :  "  Addressing  his  congregation  in  1837,  he  said, 
'  When  coining  to  this  parish  I  found  only  about  thirty-five 
communicants,  the  attendance  on  divine  service  very  irreg- 
ular, only  about  twenty  dollars  annually  given  to  missions, 
and  but  little  to  other  benevolent  institutions.'  During  his 
incumbency  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  was  raised  by 
public  subscription  for  repairing  the  church  and  also  six 
hundred  dollars  expended  on  the  old  parsonage,  besides 
other  large  sums  for  missions,  and  the  communicants  had 
increased  to  seventy-two." 

In  1 84 1  the  interior  of  the  church  was  slightly  modified 
and  some  alterations  were  made  in  the  steeple  under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Baldwin  (the  grandfather  of 
j\Irs.  William  F.  Cochran),  then  of  Norwich,  Conn. 


■  ^ -    -- .-- : ^-i|^ 

■i^lP^sa 

llH^Sii^^^s^a 

\\''- ':  ■              w^^t 

lllMaMBIiMM 

HK^            fi 

^^MMI                   "^^  "■^' ■■' 

aSfflMB^Bfl 

c               \f~i^ 

::fflffli!Mffli^SH 

f^^^t^^^^^^^        i   ^^^^ 

^■j  I  mifji. 

<;iiS!sJigjlljl=|ggp5^= 

l^^^^^^^^S^^             t     ''^^^ 

i^^fin--     . 

■  =;::i:^:  SibSi^^^s 

H?    b'".     "      ->■''  ;  ,      - 

^I^bI 

fe':'].fe   .            ''L^i/    i   '^   •.-'■.     '■' 

;:p!iissig 

^Km 

■^K;";^^mE 

i^B^^p'^.^^^^^Mf 

W^  ^'''^■^&i^^^W^'&%^ 

^B^^fiSil'"f^W!«BMft 

rli  1    L  j~__  I^oyiflf  %jrflT       i^i^''^''-'' 

-i 

Wf^w^u^^^Fr  '^v^"'^-'*:i-'fr              e^SSji 

^^^^m^m^ 

4ifi.::-iJ 

^fe  i ;  ^M  ^S»W/  -''''  ^g^fcS> .  ■■ '" 

---  ^';=^^a*s<oiVi«w  t^^iWsa,  r^^. 

..:    :;'•;-     ,15?^;  R 

P-jf  ^^l:-:^^P^-^^--  1 

f;Wp^ 

^-;*.,-..v>;^K   i:;*^i;: 

/'  '"'      -TJ' "''-'■ 

'                               -    . :  ■  * 

-yi^jf '='„.[ 

5,1        l^'.^^'^l'^ . 

■        _.,_^                                                                     •               ■"■:^--' 

I'liiiiH 

^gi|f^fti§M 

'          '-  '  ■ " 

p^s^^^^^^E 

M^r 

P^ET 

ST.   JOHN'S  CHURCH,   1849. 


Upon  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crosby  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam M.  Carmichael,  A.  M.,  was  called  to  the  rectorship,  but 
declined. 

3 


1  Sunday-school  Wor 


34  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  Rev.  Smith  Pyne  was  rector  from  1839  to  1840.  He 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Henry  L.  Storrs,  A.  M.,  in  1841, 
who  served  eleven  years,  dying  in  the  rectorship  May  16, 
1852.  During  his  rectorship  the  first  rectory  within  the 
present  church  grounds  was  built,  and  the  enlargement  of 
the  church  by  the  addition  of  transepts  took  place,  and  the 
old  parsonage  and  glebe  sold  for  $6,500,  excepting  land 
used  as  vSt.  John's  Cemetery. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Beach  Carter,  D.  D.,  became  rector 
June  12,  1852,  and  served  about  sixteen  years  and  a  half, 
resigning  December,  1868.  Rev.  Mr.  Carter  died  in  the 
rectorship  of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
March  26,  1890. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Jaggar,  D.  D.,  became  rector  in 

1869,  and  resigned  in  1870.  He  is  now  the  Bishop  of  the 
Southern  Diocese  of  Ohio. 

The  Rev.  William  S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  became  rector  in 

1870,  and  resigned  July,  1875.  He  is  now  the  General  Sec- 
retary of  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America. 

The  Rev.  Addison  B.  Atkins,  D.  D.,  became  rector 
May  I,  1875,  and  resigned  May,  1879. 

The  Rev.  James  Haughton  became  rector  October, 
1879,  ^^^  resigned  in  1887. 

In  1870  the  subject  of  improved  church  accommoda- 
tions was  agitated  by  the  people  of  vSt.  John's  Parish,  and 
the  question  presented  was  whether  the  old  building 
should  be  enlarged  and  improved,  or  pulled  down  and  a 
new  church  erected.  After  careful  deliberation  it  was 
decided  to  enlarge  and  improve  the  old  building,  retaining 
as  many  of  the  venerable  features  of  the  original  edifice  as 
should  be  found  practicable.  With  this  view  the  work  was 
committed  to  Mr.  Edward  Tuckerman  Potter,  the  well- 
known  architect.      The  new  church  was  completed  in  1872. 

The  following  description  of  the  new  and  enlarged 
edifice  is  taken  from  "The  EpivScopal  Register"  of  1874,  to 
which  is  added  the  improvements  which  have  been  made 
in  and  around  the  church  more  recently : 

"  The  design  of  the  present  and  elegant  church  ap- 
proaches the  Renaissance,  the  style  of  architecture  preva- 


ST.   JOHN'S   CHURCH.  35 

lent  in  England  during  the  reign  of  George  the  Second. 
But  the  herring-bone  course  of  brick-work,  the  peculiar 
arrangement  of  the  coping,  the  raking  buttresses  of  the 
fagade,  not  built  with  weatherings  in  the  Gothic  manner, 
but  carried  up  on  the  batter,  giving  an  appearance  of  mas- 
siveness  and  strength,  the  elaborate  brick-work  of  the  door- 
ways, the  panelling  of  the  doors,  and  the  great  rings  used 
as  handles,  all  carry  us  back  to  the  days  of  our  grandfa- 
thers and  clearly  indicate  the  Dutch  influence  which  pre- 
vailed at  the  time  the  original  structure  was  put  up. 

"  The  entire  south  wall  of  the  old  building  is  retained 
which  was  erected  in  1752,  with  its  venerable  south  door 
and  windows ;  also  the  south  transept  and  part  of  the  east 
wall  with  two  of  the  windows  of  the  old  "chancel,  the  old 
weather-vane  and  bell. 

"  Viewing  the  structure  from  the  east,  the  little  belfry 
over  the  south  transept,  the  fine  proportions  of  the  apse, 
and  the  little  vestry  attached  produce  an  effect  at  once 
artistic  and  picturesque.  This  effect  is  increased  by  the 
iron  cresting  with  the  urn-like  forms  so  much  used  by  the 
old  architects. 

"  The  exterior  of  the  clere-story,  the  windows  and  other 
parts,  are  illuminated  in  gold  and  color. 

"  The  main  entrance  is  from  the  west  by  an  ample  ves- 
tibule, divided  from  the  church  by  a  screen  of  carved  chest- 
nut and  plate-glass.  Over  the  vestibule  is  the  organ  gal- 
lery, with  the  front  elaborately  carved. 

"Appropriate  panels  bear  the  monogram  'I.  H.  S.' 
and  the  text, '  His  name  only  is  excellent,'  and  the  whole  is 
enriched  with  carved  olive-leaves  and  other  foliage,  with 
representations  of  musical  instruments  used  in  the  service 
of  the  sanctuary  from  the  earliest  times.  Drawings  of  these 
were  obtained  from  old  manuscripts  and  from  the  Raphael- 
esque  in  the  Loggio  of  the  Vatican.  The  organ  recently 
purchased,  which  is  of  elegant  and  chaste  design,  has  been 
removed  at  the  left  of  the  chancel,  the  old  organ-gallery 
being  retained. 

"  The  interior  of  the  church  is  divided  into  nave  and 
aisles — the  centre  one  being  eight  feet  and  four  inches  in 
width — by  six  finely  proportioned  bronze  columns.     From 


36  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

these  spring  a  series  of  large  semi-circular  arches,  affording 
support  to  the  clere-story.  The  spandrels  are  enriched 
with  an  arcade,  carrying  a  broad  band  carved  with  the  text, 
'  He  brought  me  into  His  banqueting-house,'  on  the  north 
side,  and  on  the  south  side,  '  And  His  Banner  over  me  was 
love.'  Above  are  little  galleries  something  after  the  style 
of  those  in  St.  Etienne  du  Mont,  at  Paris.  A  beautiful 
effect  is  produced  by  the  stained  glass  of  the  clere-story  as 
seen  above  the  galleries.  The  illuminations  are  mainly 
gold  and  color." 

"  The  church  was  redecorated  in  1889  and  the  ceiling — 
formerly  mazarine  blue — is  now  a  French  gray,  and  the 
walls,  which  were  a  violet  tint,  are  now  in  terra  cotta  with 
a  broad  band  with  traceries  in  light  blue.  The  cost  of  the 
redecoration  was  the  gift  of  Wm.  F.  Cochran.  The  chan- 
cel arch  is  lofty.  The  tympanum  above  the  arch  is  en- 
riched with  five  illustrations  displaying  a  cross  terminated 
w'x'Cq.  patera;  bearing  the  symbols  of  the  four  Evangelists." 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  handsome  brass 
tablet  with  the  following  inscription  : 

The  Chancel  Windows  of  this  Church 

Were  erected  by  her  children 

In  memory  of  Jane  Baldwin  Smith 

Who  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  July  Xth  A.  D. 

MDCCCLXXV 

Numbered — With — Thy — Saints — In 

Glory — Everlasting. 

These  windows  are  very  elegant  in  design,  represent- 
ing Mary  the  mother  of  our  Lord,  Christ  the  King,  and  St. 
John,  the  beloved  disciple. 

"  On  either  side  of  the  apse  of  the  chancel  there  are 
side  aisles  in  a  semi-apsidal  form,  in  the  manner  of  a  chevet. 

"  The  reading  desk  is  of  black  walnut,  richly  carved 
and  panelled  with  polished  veined  Griotte  marble." 

The  memorial  pulpit  was  presented  by  Mrs.  William 
F.  Cochran,  the  base  of  which  is  of  antique  oak,  quartered, 
this  method  of  cutting  the  tree  bringing  out  to  the  greatest 
extent  all  the  beauties  of  the  natural  grain  of  the  wood, 
and  highly  polished.     The  desk,  which  may  be  lowered  or 


ST.   JOHN'S   CHURCH.  37 

raised  at  pleasure,  is  also  of  oak,  and  oak  steps  lead  into 

the  pulpit  from  the  rear.     The  rest  is  of  brass.     A  brass 

rail,  supported  by  brass  columns,  incloses  the  base,  and  an 

artistic  brass  panel  in  front,  on  either  side  of  which  is  a 

panel  design  of  Easter  lilies,  bears  the  following  inscription : 

I.  H.  S. 

As  Though  God  Did  Beseech  You  Through  Us. 

Easter,  A.  D.  1888.     A  memorial  of 

Elizabeth  Paddock. 

"  Christ's  faithful  soldier  and  servant  unto  her  life's  end." 

"  The  chancel  rail  and  furniture  are  of  black  walnut. 

"  The  altar  table,  presented  by  Edmund  S.  T.  Arnold, 
M.  D.,  bears  symbols  of  the  twelve  apostles  and  eight  dif- 
ferent symbols  of  the  divine  name. 

"  On  the  elegant  Bishop's  chair  is  carved  a  mitre,  cro- 
zier,  and  olive  foliage  with  the  words  '  Grace,'  *  Mercy,' 
*  Peace.' 

"  The  chancel  floor  is  of  Italian  marble,  as  are  the  altar 
steps. 

"  The  appearance  of  the  church  from  the  chancel  look- 
ing west  is  very  beautiful.  Just  above  the  organ  gallery 
is  a  semi-circular  rose  window,  divided  into  six  sections. 

"  The  centre  bears  a  Greek  character  which  represents 
the  word  Christ.  The  other  sections  are  embellished  with 
an  open  door,  rose,  lily,  and  a  crown ;  on  the  outside  is  a 
row  of  stars  formed  of  double  triangles,  symbols  of  the 
Trinity. 

"  Above  are  five  lance  windows  on  which  are  repre- 
sented I.  H.  S.,  the  bread  and  wine  of  the  sacrament,  and 
the  Greek  letters  Alpha  and  Omega." 

The  size  of  the  ground  floor  is  63  by  120.  The  chancel 
is  50  feet  wide.     The  height  from  floor  to  peak  is  75  feet. 

The  church  is  lighted  by  nine  chandeliers  of  nine 
burners  each,  with  incandescent  electric  lamps,  with  two 
coronas  in  the  chancel  to  correspond.  They  are  beautiful 
and  unique. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  church  is  about  one  thou- 
sand. 

''  The  mural  tablets  of  the  old  church  erected  to  the 


38  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

memory  of  the  Rev.  Luke  Babcock,  the  Rev.  Elias  Cooper, 
A.  M.,  the  Rev.  Alexander  H.  Crosby,  A.  M.,  and  the  Rev. 
Henry  L.  Storrs,  A.  M.,  are  also  retained. 

"  No  description  can  convey,  however,  an  idea  of  the 
effect  which  the  architect  has  succeeded  in  producing, 
the  fine  effect  in  the  arrangement  of  distance  and  the 
management  of  space. 

"  The  eye  striking  the  galleries  of  the  clere-story  glances 
upwards  to  the  loftier  height  of  the  peak,  and  one  feels  a 
sudden  shrinkage  as  to  personal  dimensions.  The  feeling 
however  is  soon  lost  sight  of  in  the  warmth  of  coloring, 
which  cannot  fail  to  create  a  glow  of  heart.  It  really  seems 
as  though  there  is  an  atmosphere  of  color,  so  rich  are  the 
hues,  yet  so  admirably  are  they  blended.  With  all  their 
brilliance  there  is  naught  of  glare,  and  the  harmony  is  per- 
fect." 

"  The  good  people  of  St.  John's  parish  of  Yonkers  have 
a  rare  temple  of  worship." 

In  the  south  side  of  the  present  church  is  a  beautiful 
memorial  window,  representing  the  offerings  of  the  wise 
men  to  the  infant  child  Jesus.  This  window  was  erected 
in  memory  of  William  Jones  and  his  wife,  Hannah  Jones, 
by  their  children.  The  inscription  is  as  follows : 
In  Memoriam,  William  Jones,  Senior 

Warden  of  St.  John's  Church,  Fell  Asleep 

Feb'y  17TH,  1843.    Also  his  Wife  Hannah 

Watson  Jones.    Entered  into  rest  Sept'r  22D,  1839. 

Easter,]     Born  in  London,  died  at  Yonkers.      [1873. 

This  was  the  first  memorial  window  erected  in  the 
church.  Two  other  windows  are  in  memory  the  one  of 
Mrs.  John  G.  Christopher  and  the  other  of  Edward  Under- 
bill and  his  wife,  which  are  to  the  right  of  the  main  en- 
trance to  the  church. 

A  very  interesting  and  deeply  impressive  service  was 
held  in  St.  John's  Church  on  Friday  evening.  May  4,  1888, 
when  the  unveiling  and  dedication  of  an  elegant  Baptismal 
Font,  erected  in  memory  of  Miss  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb,  only 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  who  entered 
into  the  "  Palace  o'  the  King  "  May  26,  1886,  took  place. 


ST.   JOHN  S   CHURCH. 


39 


There  were  present  of  the  clergy  the  Rev.  Wm.  S. 
Langford,  D.  D.,  the  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  the  Rev. 
Wm.  S.  Coffey,  of  Eastchester,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Mann, 
of   Orange,  N.  J.,  the  Rev.  Alexander   B.  Carver,  rector. 


the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Forbes,  and 
the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  and  a  very  large  congregation. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Langford  preached  the  sermon,  taking  for 
his  text  a  portion  of  the  fourth  verse  of  the  tenth  chapter 
of  the  Acts :  "  A  memorial  before  God,"  and  in  closing  he 
said :  "  It  is  beautiful  to  make  memorials,  and  it  is  much 


40  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

more  fitting  to  place  such  in  the  house  of  God,  where  they 
can  be  specially  useful.  This  font,  this  pulpit,  and  these 
windows  are  all  valuable  memorials  because  of  that.  This 
beautiful  font  will  be  lovingly  associated  for  many  genera- 
tions, though  the  people  who  kneel  here  may  have  scarcely 
a  thought  of  her  whose  gentle  life  procured  it ;  but  they 
will,  nevertheless,  be  beholden  to  her  memory.  .  .  .  Min< 
nie  Putnam  Cobb,  when  I  took  charge  of  St.  John's  Church, 
eighteen  years  ago,  was  one  of  the  children  of  the  congre- 
gation. How  memories  cluster  around  me,  how  faces  come 
back,  as  I  recall  those  times !  Some  have  passed  within 
the  veil,  yet  they  seem  to  look  down  with  sacred  interest 
as  we  gather  to  dedicate  this  font.  She  had  a  peculiar 
loveliness  and  gentleness  of  manner.  She  knew  no  other 
church,  and  here  she  prayed  and  gave  alms  and  labored 
for  the  salvation  of  souls.  She  was  a  gift  of  God,  and  has 
been  given  back  to  God.  It  is  meet,  then,  that  this  font 
should  be  first  a  glory  to  God,  and  that  it  should  ever  be 
used  for  His  glory  and  the  benefit  of  those  who  from  gene- 
ration to  generation  shall  kneel  there  to  receive  holy  bless- 
ings." 

The  first  two  stanzas  of  "  Jerusalem  the  Golden  "  were 
then  sung  to  a  new  tune  composed  by  George  F.  Le  Jeune, 
formerly  of  Yonkers,  and  then  the  clergy  assembled  around 
the  font,  the  rector  within  the  railing,  offering  the  prayers 
of  dedication.  After  this  the  remaining  portion  of  the 
hymn  was  sung,  while  the  clergy  returned  to  the  chancel 
and  the  rector  pronounced  the  benediction. 

The  font  rests  to  the  right  of  the  Paddock  Memorial 
Pulpit,  is  of  exquisitely  carved  Carrara  marble,  and  is  sup- 
ported by  two  figures  of  angels,  life  size.  The  whole  font 
is  four  feet  and  four  inches  in  height  and  rests  on  a  stone 
base  which  is  of  dark  color,  six  inches  high,  the  whole  work 
resting  on  a  platform  of  wood  eight  by  nine  feet,  seven 
inches  from  the  floor.  Around  the  font  is  an  ornamental 
brass  railing  with  this  inscription  :  "  Erected  to  the  glory  of 
God  and  in  loving  memory  of  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb,  1887." 
The  inscriptions  on  the  font  are  as  follows :  On  the  north 
side,  "  In  memory  of  ;"  on  the  west  side,  "  Minnie  Putnam 
Cobb;"  on  the  south  side,  "May  11,  1857;  May  26,  1886;" 


ST.   JOHN'S   CHURCH.  4I 

on  the  east  side,  "  The  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr." 
The  rail  on  the  west  side  of  the  platform  insets  a  foot,  leav- 
ing one  foot  of  the  platform  outside  the  rail  for  a  kneeling- 
place  for  the  candidates  for  baptism,  and  which  is  covered 
with  a  scarlet-colored  cushion.  There  is  a  ewer  of  brass, 
twenty  inches  high,  for  holding  the  water,  which  the  rector 
pours  into  the  font  when  needed.  On  the  ewer  is  this 
inscription :  "  In  memory  of  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb.  '  He 
that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved.' — St.  Mark 
16:16." 

The  design  for  the  font  was  made  by  Mrs.  Lyman 
Cobb,  Jr. ;  the  model  was  made  by  Alexander  Doyle,  of 
New  York,  sculptor;  and  the  sculpture  is  the  work  of 
Signor  Carlo  Nicoli,  of  Florence,  Italy.  The  brass  work 
and  other  surroundings  were  furnished  by  J.  &  R.  Lamb,  of 
New  York,  excepting  the  quartered  oak  platform,  which 
was  the  work  of  John  A.  East,  of  Yonkers. 

A  handsome  and  costly  memorial  window  has  been 
placed  in  the  north  side  of  the  church  in  memory  of  the 
Rev.  Abraham  Beach  Carter,  D.  D.,  the  beloved  rector  of 
this  church  for  sixteen  years  and  a  half. 

In  i860  the  first  chapel  was  built.  The  corner-stone  of 
the  chapel  second  was  laid  on  vSt.  John  the  Evangelist's 
Day,  December  27,  1889,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  C.  Potter, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  assisted  in  the  services  by  the  Rev. 
Wm.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Forbes,  the.  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  and  the  rec- 
tor of  the  church,  the  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver. 

The  corner-stone  bears  the  simple  inscription,  "  A.  D. 
1890."  The  contents  of  the  box  are:  Parish  Year  Book  of 
1889,  the  names  of  officers  of  the  Corporation,  the  names  of 
present  members  of  the  parish,  a  roll  of  the  teachers  of  the 
Sunday-school  and  the  number  of  scholars,  coins  of  that 
year,  Yonkers  and  New  York  daily  newspapers,  the  last 
copy  of  the  "  Churchman,"  and  an  olive  branch  from  the 
oldest  tree  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane,  at  Jerusalem. 

The  trowel  with  which  the  Bishop  cemented  in  place 
the  stone  which  covered  the  box  was  of  solid  silver  with 
turned  ebony  handle.  It  bore  the  following  inscription : 
'*  Used  by  Bishop  H.  C.  Potter,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  in  laying  the 


42  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

corner-stone  of  St.  John's  Chapel,  December  27,  1889.  Pre- 
sented by  the  Altar  Society  of  St.  John's  Church  to  the 
Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver,  rector." 

The  new  buildings,  consisting  of  chapel,  parish  house, 
and  rectory,  recently  erected,  are  literally  three  in  one. 
They  are  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  architecture  of  the 
church.  The  material  of  which  the  buildings  are  con- 
structed is  gray  stone,  with  brick  trimmings.  The  interior 
of  the  chapel  is  41  1-2  by  80  ft.,  exclusive  of  the  room  at  the 
west,  which  is  24  by  28  ft.,  and  is  used  by  the  primary  de- 
partment of  the  Sunday-school.  The  chancel  of  the  chapel 
is  at  the  north  end,  with  an  organ  room  at  the  west.  At  the 
east  end  are  ample  robing-rooms,  also  a  well-arranged  library 
room.  The  interior  of  the  chapel  is  finished  with  stained 
white  wood,  with  high  ceiling,  and  is  furnished  with  most 
comfortable  chair  seats,  as  are  also  the  various  class-rooms. 

Between  the  chapel  and  the  church,  but  connected  with 
the  former  as  part  of  the  same  building,  and  with  the  latter 
by  a  covered  way  or  cloister  leading  to  the  entrance  of  the 
church,  is  the  parish  house,  which  is  two  stories  high.  The 
main  room  on  the  lower  floor  is  20  by  32  ft.  In  this  assem- 
bly room  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  hold  their  meet- 
ings. This  room  opens  into  the  chapel  by  large  sliding- 
doors.  At  the  rear  of  the  assembly-room  towards  the  east 
is  a  kitchen  and  other  rooms.  In  the  second  story  is  the 
rector's  study,  with  four  rooms  for  various  branches  of 
church  work. 

The  rectory  is  42  by  56  ft.  in  size,  although  its  outlines 
are  irregular,  with  many  gables,  turrets,  and  chimneys.  It 
contains  eighteen  rooms,  and  has  beside  a  spacious  cellar. 
The  interior  is  partly  painted  and  in  part  finished  in  hard 
wood.  It  is  connected  with  the  chapel  and  other  buildings 
by  a  covered  cloister  nine  feet  wide.  The  buildings  form, 
with  the  church  proper,  a  court  which  faces  on  South  Broad- 
way. A  driveway  circles  about  a  beautiful  lawn,  containing 
some  time-honored  locust-trees.  Around  the  entire  church 
property  is  an  exceedingly  handsome  low  stone  wall,  in  keep- 
ing with  the  architecture  of  the  buildings  which  it  surrounds. 
This  fence  is  included  in  the  gift  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Cochran. 

The   buildings   were   designed   by    R.  H.    Robertson, 


ST.   JOHN  S   CHURCH.  43 

architect,  of  New  York.  The  builders  were  James  and 
George  Stewart,  of  the  firm  of  masons,  and  S.  Francis  Quick, 
the  carpenter. 

Tuesday  evening,  the  feast  of  the  Epiphany,  January 
6,  1 89 1,  was  an  occasion  memorable  in  the  history  of  St. 
John's  Church,  inasmuch  as  on  that  evening  the  new  chap- 
el, parish  house,  clnd  rectory  were  then  given  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liam F.  Cochran. 

In  addition  to  this  gift  Mr.  Cochran  placed  on  the 
church  property  at  the  corner  of  vSouth  Broadway  and  Hud- 
son Street  a  public  cold  water  drinking-fountain,  to  be 
known  as  "St.  John's  Cold  Water  Fountain." 

The  mortgage  debt  upon  the  church  property,  amount- 
ing to  $49,000,  was  cancelled  by  Mrs.  Eva  S.  Cochran. 
These  aggregated  gifts  amounted  to  over  $100,000. 

Judge  Stephen  H.  Thayer,  treasurer  of  the  vestry, 
responded  on  their  behalf  in  a  brief  and  felicitous  manner, 
accepting  the  noble  gift  on  behalf  of  the  vestry.  The  Rev. 
Alexander  B.  Carver  made  an  address,  speaking  of  the  gifts 
as  gifts  to  the  parish,  to  the  town,  to  the  church  at  large, 
and  to  God  himself,  and  then  offered  a  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions expressive  of  the  appreciation  by  the  rector,  ward- 
ens, vestrymen,  and  pewholders  of  St.  John's  Church  of  the 
high  Christian  sentiments  which  dwell  in  the  hearts  of  the 
donors,  and  praying  that  they  may  be  refreshed  through- 
out many  prosperous  years  by  a  perception  of  the  many 
blessings  which  shall  result  from  the  sowing  of  this  good 
seed.  The  resolutions  were  adopted  unanimously  by  a 
standing  vote.  The  munificent  gifts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cochran  have  placed  St.  John's  parish  upon  a  strong  basis, 
and  the  facilities  for  the  prosecution  of  all  parish  work  are 
thus  largely  increased. 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese, the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  C.  Potter,  on  Wednesday,  April 
I,  1 89 1,  in  the  presence  of  thirty-seven  of  the  clergy  and  a 
large  congregation. 

The  Bishop,  accompanied  by  the  clergy,  was  received 
at  the  entrance  of  the  church  by  wardens  Walter  H.  Pad- 
dock and  Philip  Verplanck,  and  vestrymen  William  F. 
Cochran,  John  H.  Hubbell,  William  F.  Lawrence,  William 


44  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

W.  Scrugham,  William  M.  Morgan,  Stephen  H.  Thayer, 
Frederick  Von  Storch,  and  Robert  P.  Getty,  Jr.  The  ves- 
try formed  on  either  side  of  the  centre  aisle  of  the  door ; 
the  clergy  passed  along  and  formed  similarly;  and  then 
the  Bishop  walked  between  the  columns,  leading  the  way 
to  the  chancel.  As  they  proceeded  up  the  aisle  the  Bishop 
and  clergy  repeated  alternately  Psalm  24,  beginning,  "  The 
earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  all  that  therein  is." 

The  Bishop  then  went  within  the  chancel  rails  with 
such  of  the  clergy  as  could  be  accommodated.  As  he  sat 
in  his  chair  the  instrument  of  donation  was  read  by  vestry- 
man Cochran,  and  was  then  presented  to  him  by  the  rector. 

The  instrument  of  consecration,  w^hich  was  signed  by 
Bishop  Potter,  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langford.  The 
consecration  service  being  ended.  Morning  Prayer  followed, 
the  officiating  clergymen  being  Bishop  Talbot,  Archdeacon 
Thomas,  and  the  Rev„  Drs.  Huntington  and  Langford. 
The  musical  programme  was  as  follows,  and  was  well  ren- 
dered: Venite  Exultemus,  Dr.  W.  Turner;  the  Psalter — 
Proper  Psalms,  84,  120,  132  ;  Te  Deum  Laudamus,  Mendels- 
sohn ;  Benedictus,  Dudley  Buck ;  Introit — Hymn  278  (St. 
Ann's),  Dr.  Craft ;  Kyrie  Eleison  ;  Gloria  Tibi,  W.  T.  Best ; 
the  Hundredth  Psalm,  Mozart;  Offertory,  "This  is  the 
Day,"  Gadsby ;  Recessional  Hymn,  282,  Henry  Smart. 

The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  David  H. 
Greer,  D.  D.,  rector  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  New 
York,  from  the  text,  "  And  the  Lord  added  to  the  church 
daily  such  as  should  be  saved."  Acts  2:47.  It  was  an 
able  and  appropriate  discourse. 

After  the  services,  which  ended  shortly  after  i  o'clock, 
the  clergy ,vestry,  and  others  partook  of  an  elaborate  luncheon 
provided  by  the  ladies  of  the  church  in  the  parish  building. 

The  present  rector  of  this  church,  the  Rev.  Alexander 
B.  Carver,  studied  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
at  the  Episcopal  Divinity  School  at  Cambridge  in  1878. 
His  mother  is  a  descendant  of  the  House  of  Hapsburg  and 
his  father  a  descendant  from  Capt.  Carver  of  the  "  May- 
flower." During  his  diaconate  he  was  assistant  minister  of 
Christ  Church,  Brooklyn. 

After  a  year's  service  as  assistant  he  was  ordained  to 


ST.  John's  church.  45 

the  priesthood,  and  then  assumed  charge  of  a  mission 
church,  St.  Gabriel's,  in  Providence,  R.  I.  This  mission, 
at  first  heavily  in  debt,  was  cleared  of  its  indebtedness  and 
became  an  independent  parish. 

After  a  service  of  five  years  he  was  called  to  the  rec- 
torship  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Narragansett  Pier,  and  held 
the  position  for  two  summers,  when  he  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  become  assistant  minister  of  St.  Thomas'  Church, 
New  York  city. 

In  1887  he  was  unanimously  elected  to  the  rectorship 
of  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 

The  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  always  faithful  and  ready, 
assists  the  rector  on  Sundays. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver  is  a  clergyman  of 
marked  ability.  His  sermons  bear  evidence  of  deep 
thought  and  a  mind  well  stored  with  philosophic  and  reli- 
gious truth.  They  are  replete  with  poetic  figure,  apt  illus- 
trations, and  sound  gospel  teaching,  being  delivered  with 
much  feeling  and  earnestness  of  expression.  His  sermons 
without  manuscript  are  of  late  his  best  efforts,  and  predict 
for  him  in  the  near  future  a  decided  reputation  for  that 
method  of  preaching.  Besides  this  he  is  thoroughly  faith- 
ful in  parish  work.  Having  the  stamp  of  the  Christian  gen- 
tleman, his  visits  are  well  received.  The  increase  of  the 
members  of  the  parish  and  the  attendance  at  the  church 
services  prove  very  forcibly  that  he  is  appreciated  and  is 
doing  a  good  work.  His  popularity  in  a  parish  distin- 
guished for  the  diversity  of  the  churchmanship  of  its 
members  is  remarkable.  Extremely  liberal  in  his  views 
and  imbued  with  love  for  the  Master,  he  rejoices  in  and 
encourages  with  his  sympathy  and  help  every  good  work. 

The  present  officers  of  St.  John's  Church,  1891,  and 
who  were  elected  on  Easter  Monday,  1891,  are — 

WARDENS. 

Walter  H.  Paddock,  Philip  Verplanck. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  F.  Cochran,  William  M.  Morgan, 

John  H.  Hubbell,  Stephen  H.  Thayer, 

William  F.  Lawrence,  Fred.  Von  Storch, 

William  W.  Scrugham,  Robert  P.  Getty,  Jr. 


46  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CLERK  OF  VESTRY.  TREASURER. 

Robert  P.  Getty,  Jr.  S.  H.  Thayer,  Jr. 

The  ushers  of  St.  John's  Church  are  as  follows : 

Fred.  Von  Storch,  Earnest  Belknap, 

George  Herbert  Rose,  Kearney  Pentz, 

Wilson  Morris,  Albert  S.  Skinner. 

PAROCHIAL  STATISTICS,  SEPTEMBER  i,  18S9-1890. 

Number  of  souls,  about 1,000  1,000 

Baptisms:   Infants,  44 ;  adults,  10.     Total  .         .         54  66 

Confirmed 31  37 

Marriages 18  19 

Burials 27  19 

Communicants :  Number  last  reported     .        .         600  600 
Expenditures.     Total  for  all  objects,  1890,  115,666  t,t,. 

The  membership  of  St.  John's  Church  is  effectively 
organized  for  various  forms  of  parish  and  other  work. 
Prominent  among  the  latter  is  St.  John's  Riverside  Hospi- 
tal, which  was  founded  November,  1869,  and  chartered  in 
1870,  and  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  public  institutions 
of  Yonkers,  and  has  enlisted  the  sympathy  and  care  of 
this  congregation  ever  since  its  establishment. 

Several  of  the  members  of  St.  John's  Church  have 
served  for  successive  years  as  members  of  its  Board  of 
Managers.  The  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  has  served  as  its 
Chaplain  and  Treasurer  for  twenty  years  and  filled  those 
offices  with  great  acceptance. 

St.  John's  Church  also  supported  a  lady  missionary, 
Miss  Seymour,  who  went  to  vSouth  Africa  in  1857.  The 
Church  has  aLso  the  following  societies  connected  with  it : 

The  Women's  Auxiliary.  President,  Mrs.  William  F. 
Cochran  ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Dr.  Houston ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Hal- 
stead.  The  Auxiliary  raised  for  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sions in  1890  over  $1,000. 

A  Junior  Auxiliary  Missionary  Society  was  organized 
January,  1890.  The  amount  raised  for  home  and  foreign 
missions  for  the  year  ending  December,  1890,  was  $400. 

Altar  Society.  President,  Mrs.  Alexander  B.  Carver, 
Mrs.  D.  A.  Booth,  Miss  Nellie  Scrugham,  Miss  Waring. 

Dorcas  Society. 

Mothers'  Meeting. 


ST.  JOHN  S    CHURCH.  47 

The  Industrial  School. 

Girls'  Friendly  Society. 

In  September,  1888,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Wray  began  her  labors 
as  parish  visitor,  and  served  till  June,  1889.  She  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Mrs.  E.  L.  Chapman,  who  is  the  present  parish 
visitor.  The  rector,  the  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver,  bears 
testimony  to  the  efficiency  and  great  usefulness  of  her 
labors  in  connection  with  the  parish  work. 

Organist  and  Choirmaster,  James  Pearce,  Mus.  Bac. 
Oxon. 

The  leading  singers  are  Miss  Louise  Cowles,  soprano, 
Miss  Sara  Humbert,  alto,  Harry  Rawcliffe,  tenor,  and  R.  G. 
Jackson,  bass;  the  best  quartette  the  church  has  had,  at 
least  for  many  years. 

Three  of  the  sextons  of  St.  John's  Church  have  been 
Charles  Philips  Angevine,  son  of  John  Angevine,  a  colored 
servant  of  the  Philipses,  who  served  forty-five  years,  Lewis 
Ritter,  colored,  who  acted  in  that  capacity  for  thirty  years, 
and  Richard  J.  Whitehead,  who  served  for  twenty-eight 
years ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Benson  M.  De  Witt,  The 
present  sexton  is  Sylvester  L.  Havey. 

On  the  present  pulpit  Bible  is  inscribed,  "  St.  John's 
Church,  Yonkers,  1872.     Gift  of  Mrs.  J.  Lewis  Leib." 

"  The  old  communion  service  of  this  church  was  car- 
ried off,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  for  safe  keeping 
to  the  city  of  New  York.  Some  years  after  the  close  of 
the  war  the  altar  cloth  was  discovered  in  an  old  dusty  box 
where  it  had  lain  through  the  whole  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  is  now  preserved  at  St.  John's  Chapel,  Tuckahoe. 

"  The  silver  formerly  used  at  the  administration  of  the 
holy  sacrament  consisted  of  one  large  silver  flagon,  two 
silver  chalices,  a  silver  basin  or  font  (the  latter  was  pre- 
sented by  a  member  of  the  Van  Cortlandt  family  in  1830, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  baptism  of  Miss  Harriet  Van  Cort- 
landt Crosby,  daughter  of  Rev.  Alexander  H.  Crosby),  and 
two  silver  plates,  one  of  which  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion :  '  Presented  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  Town  of  Yon- 
kers, 1795.' 

"  The  altar-cloth  was  given  by  Miss  Arabella  Ludlow." 

BOLTON'S   HISTORY   OF   WESTCHESTER   COUNTY. 


48  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  present  communion-service  is  of  solid  silver,  and 
consists  of  two  flagons,  two  chalices,  two  patens,  and  a 
communion-spoon  and  spoon-rest.  On  the  flagons  are  the 
following  inscriptions  :  "  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers.  The 
gift  of  William  C.  Waring,  July  i,  1845."  "Presented  to 
St.  John's  Church  by  Lyman  Cobb,  jr.,  in  memory  of 
Hannah  Chambers  Cobb,  his  beloved  mother,  Yonkers, 
November,  1884." 

The  communion-spoon  and  spoon-rest  each  bear  the  fol- 
lowing inscription :  "  Presented  to  St.  John's  Church,  by 
Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  in  memory  of  his  sister,  H.  Louise  Crut- 
tenden,  November,  <i  884." 

Communion  set  for  the  sick.  "  Presented  by  Sylvanus 
Mayo  to  St.  John's  Church,  Easter,  1880.  In  memory  of 
Angelica  R.  Mayo." 

The  large  paten  bears  this  inscription :  "  Presented  to 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Town  of  Yonkers,  1795." 
Upon  the  small  paten,  "  Presented  by  Augustus  Fred  Van 
Cortlandt  to  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers,  November  i,  1836." 

The  chalices  bear  the  following  inscriptions :  "The  gift 
of  Miss  S.  Williams  to  the  Episcopal  Churchy  of  Philips- 
burgh."  "The  gift  of  Miss  H.  Vv^hite  to  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  Philipsburgh,  1836." 

The  three  silver  alms-basins  bear  the  following  inscrip- 
tions: the  first,  "William  Jones,"  the  second,  "Nathaniel 
Valentine,"  the  third,  "  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
from  W.  M.  Morgan,  Easter,  New  York,  A.  D.,  1891." 

On  Easter,  1891,  a  brass  altar  desk  was  presented  by 
the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  which  bears  the  following  in- 
scription :  "In  loving  memory  of  Raffaelle  Cobb,  Jr.,  1890." 

Also  ten  chancel  prayer  and  service  books,  "  Presented 
to  St.  John's  Church  by  J.  Lewis  Leib,  in  memory  of  his 
wife,  Josephine  S.  Leib." 

The  bell  was  presented  to  the  church  by  Joseph  How- 
land,  Esq.,  and  contains  the  following  inscription :  "  B. 
Hanks,  Mansfield,  Conn.,  181 8." 

The  first  Year  Book  of  St.  John's  Church  was  issued  in 
1889.  The  rector  in  his  introductory  note  of  the  Parish 
Year  Book  of  1889  says,  "We  believe  that  we  are  entering 
upon  a  new  era  of  increased  usefulness  and  prosperity,  and 


ST.    JOHN'S   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  49 

that  by  steadfast  support,  patient  sympathy,  generous  help, 
and  enthusiastic  loyalty  we  shall  *  abound  more  and  more,' 
and  bring  forth  good  fruit  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God 
and  His  church," 

Holy  Communion  first  Sunday  in  the  month,  1 1  a.  m. 

Holy  Baptism  on  the  first  Sunday  in  the  month.  At 
other  times  by  special  appointment. 

Confirmation  as  appointed  by  the  Bishop. 

ST.   JOHN'S   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

From  the  semi-centennial  report  of  John  P.  Groshon, 
the  present  superintendent  of  St.  John's  Sunday-school,  we 
find  that  the  school  was  sixty-one  years  old  Easter,  1887. 
According  to  this  report  the  school  was  founded  under  the 
rectorship  of  the  Rev.  John  West,  A.  M.,  who  was  called  to 
the  rectorship  of  St.  John's  Church  the  17th  of  October,  1823. 

From  Miss  Alice  S.  Brown,  a  resident  of  Kingsbridge, 
whose  recollections  of  the  school  date  back  to  the  rector- 
ship of  the  Rev.  John  West,  in  the  year  1826,  we  learn  that 
the  school  was  held  in  Manor  Hall  (now  the  Yonkers  City 
Hall)  on  Warburton  Avenue,  which  was  at  that  time  the 
residence  of  Lemuel  Wells,  Sr.,  warden  in  St.  John's 
Church.  There,  in  a  room  designated  as  the  "  Green 
Room,"  Miss  Brown,  with  her  sister  and  her  brother  James 
D.  Brown,  met  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Wells,  Sr.,  whose 
family  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells.  Sr.,  Lemuel  Wells, 
their  only  son,  who  died  at  an  early  age  and  was  at  this 
time  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Cadle,  and  also 
Mrs.  Wells'  youngest  sister  (now  Mrs.  Harriet  Baylies), 
daughter  of  Mr.  James  Blackwell,  of  Blackwell's  Island. 
These,  with  two  others  whose  names  she  could  not  recall, 
constituted  the  little  Sunday-school. 

After  a  time  the  "  Green  Room  "  became  too  small  to 
accommodate  them,  and  they  adjourned  to  the  Library. 
The  name  of  the  superintendent  she  does  not  recollect,  but 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cadle  sometimes  conducted  the  opening  exer- 
cises. Her  recollections  of  the  hours  spent  in  the  school 
are  very  pleasant,  and  her  remembrance  of  Mr.  Wells  and 
his  family  especially  so. 

The  room  formerly  known  as  the  "  Green  Room  "  is 

Church  and  Sunday-achool  Work.  A 


50 


CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


now  the  room  in  the  present  City  Hall  which  is  occupied  by 
the  janitor,  and  the  room  formerly  known  as  the  "  Library  '* 
is  the  southwest  room  in  the  second  story,  and  is  especially 
sacred  to  memory  as  General  Washington's  bed-chamber. 

In  the  west  room  of  the  .second  story  of  Manor  Hall""-' 
the  fireplace  jambs  are  lined  with  one  hundred  and  six 
tiles,  five  inches  square,  each  one  illustrating  a  passage  of 
Scripture.  The  iron  fire-brick  is  dated  1 760,  and  has  upon 
it  a  casting  representing  Elijah  being  fed  by  ravens. 

At  a  later  period  the  little  school  gathered  again  within 
its  walls,  and  received   a  cordial  welcome  from   its  kind 


THE   MANOR    HALL    IN    1842. 


owner,  Lemuel  Wells,  Sr.,  who  opened  its  doors  on  the  cold 
winter  mornings  in  "ye  olden  times"  when  the  good  sex- 
ton of  St.  John's  Church  failed,  as  he  sometimes  did,  to  kin- 
dle the  fire  in  season,  so  as  to  make  the  church  comfortable 
for  their  meeting. 

The  late  Mrs.  P.  W.  Paddock,  who  was  a  pupil  in  the 

*  Upon  a  tablet  fastened  on  the  wall  of  the  present  front  hall  of  Manor 
Hall  is  this  inscription  :  "  Philipse  Manor  House.  Erected  in  1682,  by 
Frederick  Philipse,  esq.  Manor  of  Philipsburg  created  1693.  Confiscated 
by  act  of  the  legislature  of  New  York,  1779.  Sold  by  Commissioners  of  for- 
feiture, 1785.  Occupied  as  a  private  residence  until  1868.  Purchased  by 
the  village  of  Yonkers  in  that  year.  Became  the  City  Hall  of  Yonkers 
1872.     Bi-centennial  celebration  of  its  erection  1882." 


ST.   JOHNS    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  5 1 

Sunday-school  at  that  time,  related  the  above  incident  to 
her  children  when  talking  of  her  Sunday-school  days. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  H.  Crosby,  who  became  rector  of 
St.  John's  Church,  was  very  closely  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  the  school,  and  during  his  connection  with  it  he 
was  assisted  by  Squire  Thaddeus  Rockwell,  who  also  held 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  village  of  Yonkers 
at  that  time. 

From  early  reminiscences  of  this  school  given  by  Mrs. 
Frederick  A.  Back,*  an  old  resident  of  Yonkers,  and  who 
was  a  pupil  in  the  school,  we  find  that  it  was  held  in  the 
old  court-room  located  on  Broadway  on  the  site  Avhere  the 
Citizen's  Bank  now  stands.  This  room  was  about  eighteen 
feet  wide  and  forty  feet  long,  with  wooden  benches  for 
seats.  This  building  is  at  present  located  on  Nepperhan 
Avenue,  opposite  Morgan  Street. 

The  rector  and  his  most  estimable  wife,  a  woman 
greatly  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her,  were  always  present 
during  the  session,  which  was  from  nine  o'clock  until  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  They  were  both  very  sweet  singers 
and  always  led  the  singing,  which  consisted  of  selections 
from  the  metrical  version  of  the  Psalms  of  David. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Crosby  always  heard  the  children  recite 
the  Church  Catechism.  It  was  the  custom  of  Mrs.  Back, 
when  obliged  to  be  absent  from  the  school,  to  send  to  hei 
teacher  the  answers  to  the  questions  of  the  lessons  for  the 
day  written  out.  The  Apostles'  Creed  was  recited  in  con- 
cert and  a  psalm  was  sung,  and  the  scholars  with  their 
teachers,  two  by  two,  walked  in  procession  to  the  church 
over  the  way,  the  rector  and  his  wife  leading. 

At  this  time  the  school  numbered  between  twenty  and 
thirty  scholars  and  eight  teachers.  They  were  IMiss  Har- 
riet Myers  (now  Mrs.  Albert  Keeler),  Miss  Sarah  Forester 

*  Mr.  Frederick  A.  Back,  an  old  resident  of  this  city,  remembers  when 
quite  a  young  boy  of  attending  a  Sunday-school  which  was  held  in  the  par- 
lor of  Mrs.  Barrett,  an  English  lady  who  resided  on  the  Pinkney  farm,  later 
known  as  the  Coddington  farm,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Getty  Square,  in 
New  York  city,  and  upon  a  portion  of  which  Superintendent  Groshon  now 
resides.  She  was  assisted  by  her  sisters.  The  number  of  pupils  Mr.  Back 
does  not  remember.  The  school  was  held  during  the  summer  months 
only,  and  but  for  one  year.     He  thinks  it  was  in  1825  or  1826. 


52  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK, 

(now  Mrs.  George  B.  Rockwell),  Miss  Eliza  Rockwell  (now 
Mrs.  Joseph  Moore),  Miss  Jane  Myers,  Miss  Rachel  Anna 
Nodine,  Miss  Hibbard,  Mrs.  Jane  Baldwin,  and  Peter  Nodine. 

The  exact  date  cannot  be  ascertained  when  the  school 
left  this  building  and  met  in  vSt.  John's  Church.  In  the 
year  1832  John  Hobbs  became  a  teacher  in  the  school,  and 
at  that  time  it  was  held  in  the  gallery  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Hobbs  led  the  singing,  and  often  took  the  place  of  the 
librarian  when  that  official  was  absent.  The  school  was 
divided  into  two  divisions.  The  girls  occupied  the  south 
end  of  the  gallery  and  the  boys  the  north  end.  The  super- 
intendent's desk  was  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  room 
between  the  two  divisions.  There  was  one  adult  Bible 
class,  which  was  taught  by  Sampson  Siippson. 

Mrs.  Charles  Belknap,  a  resident  of  Yonkers,  who  was 
a  pupil  in  the  school  at  that  time,  says,  "  The  scholars  num- 
bered between  forty  and  fifty,  and  the  children  always  re- 
mained during  the  church  service  in  the  gallery.  Mr.  Hobbs 
led  the  singing  in  the  church  also  and  Miss  Caroline  Jones 
presided  at  the  organ.  The  school  became  too  large  to  meet 
in  the  gallery  and  adjourned  to  the  body  of  the  church." 

In  the  year  1849  transepts  were  added  with  other  im- 
provements to  the  church  edifice,  and  during  this  time  the 
school  was  held  in  what  was  called  the  "  Long  Room." 
This  room  was  in  a  building  belonging  to  the  Wells  estate, 
and  was  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Broadway  and 
Main  Street.  There  were  three  rooms  in  this  building 
opening  into  each  other  by  folding  doors,  and  it  was  at  that 
time  the  only  public  hall  in  the  place. 

The  Sunday-school  was  held  in  the  church  chapel, 
which  was  erected  in  i860,  and  was  located  within  the 
inclosure  of  the  church  grounds  on  Hudson  Street  until  it 
was  removed  to  the  present  beautiful  and  commodious 
chapel  on  Sunday,  June  29,  1890.  The  first  church  chapel 
was  erected  by  private  subscription,  and  was  a  wooden 
structure  with  transepts.  The  interior  was  pleasant  and 
attractive.  It  had  stained  glass  windows,  and  on  the  north 
side,  in  the  chancel  window,  was  represented  in  stained 
glass  three  choir  boys,  symbolizing  praise.  Underneath 
the  picture  were  these  words :  "  We  praise  thee,  O  God." 


ST.   JOHN'S   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  53 

On  the  west  window  was  pictured  Christ  blessing 
little  children,  with  the  words,  "  For  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven."  On  the  opposite  side,  over  the  east  en- 
trance, was  the  representation  of  an  open  Bible  with  a 
crown  above  it. 

The  infant  class  room  on  the  south  side  and  south 
entrance  opened  into  the  audience-room,  between  which 
were  sliding  doors,  over  which  was  inscribed,  "  Remember 
now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth."  In  this  room 
was  a  large  oil  painting  representing  a  scene  after  the  cru- 
cifixion :  the  darkened  sun,  the  riven  rocks,  and  the  centre 
cross  standing  upright  with  the  inscription  upon  it,  "  I.  N. 
R.  I.,"  while  the  other  crosses  have  fallen  broken  into  the 
chasm  below,  are  strikingly  represented.  This  picture  is  a 
copy  from  the  original  which  was  painted  by  J.  T.  Weir, 
and  is  in  the  chapel  of  "  the  Holy  Innocents "  at  West 
Point.  It  is  said  to  have  considerable  artistic  merit.  It 
was  presented  to  the  Sunday-school  by  Mrs.  W,  W.  Scrug- 
ham. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Sunday-school,  for  May  23, 
1872,  gives  the  following  statistics:  Total  number  of  teach- 
ers, 34;  total  number,  of  pupils,  484,  number  in  primary 
department,  241  ;  number  of  volumes  in  library,  900;  total 
amount  contributed  for  benevolence  during  the  year, 
$266  gi.  The  officers  of  the  school  were  Samuel  Emmet 
Getty,  Superintendent ;  Edward  Jackson,  Secretary ;  A.  O. 
Lawrence,  Librarian ;  and  Fred.  W.  Von  Storch  and  G.  E. 
Back,  Assistant  Librarians. 

The  semi-centennial  anniversary  of  the  school  was 
held  in  the  church  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on 
Whitsunday,  1876,  when  the  exercises  began  by  singing  a 
hymn,  followed  by  the  reading  of  a  selection  of  Psalms ; 
then  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis,  reading  of  the  Scriptures, 
Creed,  and  prayer ;  singing  by  the  infant  class,  which  was 
followed  by  an  address  by  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Addison  B, 
Atkins,  D.  D. ;  closing  by  a  hymn  and  benediction. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  printed  report  of  the 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  April,  1876: 

"  The  Sunday-school  connected  with  St.  John's  Church 
on  South  Broadway  is  a  model  one  in  every  respect.     Good 


54  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

order  and  close  attention  to  the  lesson  were  observable  on 
the  occasion  of  our  visit  last  Sunday  morning.  The  attend- 
ance was  large  and  all  seemed  much  interested.  Since 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Atkins  has  taken  the  rectorship  of  this  parish 
he  has  organized  a  Bible-class,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. 

"  The  following  statistics  for  the  past  year  speak  well 
of  the  condition  of  the  school-  Officers,  6,  teachers,  34; 
scholars  on  register,  340,  average  attendance,  259;  largest 
attendance,  327;  number  in  infant  class,  130;  volumes  in 
library,  600;  receipts,  $498  78;  expenditures,  $461  34, 

"  The  officers  of  the  school  are  as  follows .  J.  P.  Gro- 
shon.  Superintendent ;  Frederick  Von  Storch,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer ;  Charles  Back,  T.  Silkman,  Governeur  Morris, 
and  John  T.  Christopher,  Librarians.  The  teachers  are  as 
follows :  Miss  A.  D.  Locke,  Miss  M.  Bowers,  Miss  C.  Law- 
son,  Miss  M.  V.  Oakley,  Miss  Gettie  E.  Cobb,  Miss  M.  Gi- 
hon.  Miss  L.  M.  Sommers,  Miss  Kate  Underhill,  Miss  L. 
Clark,  Mrs.  James  Bloomer,  Miss  N.  Lawson,  Miss  J.  A. 
Christopher,  Mrs.  George  W.  Cobb,  Mrs.  Dr.  Swift,  Miss 
A.  Locke,  Miss  L  M.  Orme,  Miss  E.  A.  Metcalf,  Mrs.  C.  E. 
Keeler,  Miss  H.  Gihon,  Miss  K.  E.  Spencer,  Mrs.  D.  C.  Kel- 
linger.  Miss  M.  L.  Proseus,  Miss  Arthur,  Messrs.  George 
W.  Cobb,  R.  J.  Harper,  H.  B.  Odell,  James  D.  Mclntyre, 
S.  J.  Everett,  S.  A.  Moore,  Edgar  Logan,  Jr.,  Wm.  Smith, 
J.  B.  Silkman,  A.  A.  Renwee,  and  Mr.  Gaul." 

The  fifty-second  Easter  celebration  of  the  Sunday- 
school  was  held  in  the  church  on  April  21,  1878.  At  four 
o'clock  the  school  marched  from  the  chapel  singing  a  pro- 
cessional hymn.  The  exercises  comprised  the  singing  of 
carols.  Scripture  reading,  the  recitation  of  the  Creed  and 
prayers,  the  address  by  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Atkins, 
and  the  presentation  of  the  offerings.  The  offerings  by 
the  scholars  were  very  beautiful,  the  Scripture  mottoes 
accompanying  them  appropriate,  and  the  amounts  credita- 
ble, making  the  aggregate  sum  of  $175,  which  was  devoted 
to  various  benevolent  objects. 

The  report  of  John  P.  Groshon,  Superintendent,  was  as 
follows:  Number  of  pupils  on  the  roll,  448  ;  largest  attend- 
ance, 437:    smallest  attendance,    114;    average  attendance, 


ST.   JOHN'S    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  55 

286 ;  teachers  and  officers,  46 ,  total,  483.  Superintendent 
Groshon  said  the  school  held  its  sessions  throughout  the 
year  without  the  omission  of  a  single  Sunday.  Ninety-six 
scholars  had  committed  the  Catechism  during  the  year. 
The  children's  weekly  contributions  for  missions  were 
$630  25.  Agnes  Clayton,  Mary  Kelly,  Minnie  Ginzlinger, 
Nellie  Lanzendren,  William  Gaul,  and  Harry  Clayton  had 
been  present  in  their  places  every  Sunday  during  the  year. 
After  the  exercises  by  the  school  the  rector  distributed 
presents  to  those  members  who  by  punctuality  in  attend- 
ance and  application  to  lessons  had  earned  them. 

On  Easter  morning  Rt.  Rev.  Horatio  Potter,  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese,  confirmed  a  class  of  thirty-five,  seventeen  of 
whom  were  adults,  the  others  being  from  the  Sunday- 
school.  This  number  made  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
persons  who  had  been  presented  for  confirmation  by  the 
rector,  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Atkins,  D.  D.,  within  two  years. 

The  Christmas  and  Easter  festivals  of  the  school  are 
occasions  of  great  interest  and  enjoyment  to  the  children, 
and  their  Easter  offerings  of  flowers  are  choice  and  beauti- 
ful. On  one  of  these  occasions  among  the  floral  designs 
was  a  pyramid  of  flowers,  the  offering  from  a  class  of  young 
ladies,  while  crosses  and  anchors  and  fancy  baskets  full  of 
flowers  were  among  the  other  offerings.  And  across  the 
chancel  rail  were  fastened  wires  to  which  were  hung  floral 
letters,  and  a  member  from  each  class,  as  the  class  was  called, 
came  and  placed  a  letter  on  the  wires.  The  school  did  not 
know  what  the  sentence  was  to  be  until  after  each  class  had 
placed  its  letter.  And  when  it  was  completed  it  read 
thus:  "Christ  is  Risen."  The  letters  were  composed  of 
pure  white  flowers,  on  a  background  of  green.  The  effect 
was  exquisitely  beautiful. 

At  one  of  the  Christmas  festivals,  a  Jacob's  ladder,  bril- 
liantly lighted,  extended  from  the  chancel  floor  to  the  roof, 
at  the  base  of  which  were  placed  the  gifts  for  the  school,  and 
it  was  the  attractive  feature  of  the  event. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1 868  was  held  in  the  Sunday- 
school  chapel,  which  was  beautifully  decorated  with  ever- 
greens and  the  tables  were  bountifully  spread  with  cake, 
fruit,  and  confections.     In  the  centre  of  the  transept  stood 


56  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

a  large  Christmas-tree.  The  exercises  of  the  evening  were 
opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Carter,  a  former  rector 
of  the  church,  who  had  made  it  a  special  duty  and  pleasure 
to  attend  on  this  occasion. 

Dr.  Carter  said :  "  Though  no  longer  their  rector,  he 
hoped  they  would  not  look  upon  him  as  a  stranger,  that  his 
former  pleasant  connection  with  them  would  not  pass  from 
their  memory.  It  would  not  pass  from  his,  and  he  hoped 
often  to  visit  them  and  witness  the  continued  prosperity  of 
the  school.  And  he  left  them  as  his  last  special  lesson  the 
duty  of  reverence  to  the  holy  child  Jesus,  whose  birth  they 
were  celebrating." 

Interesting  and  appropriate  addresses  were  made  by 
Edgar  Logan  and  Britton  Richardson.  The  distribution  of 
gifts  from  the  Christmas-tree  followed,  giving  great  delight 
to  the  young  recipients.  A  pleasing  feature  of  the  occasion 
was  the  presentation  of  a  beautiful  study-chair  to  Dr.  Carter 
by  Mr.  Richardson  on  behalf  of  the  school. 

Dr.  Carter  replied  in  feeling  terms  that  in  receiving  the 
evidence  of  the  love  of  his  former  young  charge  he  hoped  it 
would  long  remain  in  his  family  as  a  reminder  of  his  happy 
connection  with  the  Sunday-school  of  St.  John's  Church. 

The  doxology  was  sung,  and  the  benediction  given  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Carter,  and  teachers,  scholars,  and  visitors  all 
seemed  highly  delighted  with  the  evening's  entertainment. 

St.  John's  Sunday-school  has  four  circles  of  the  "  King's 
Daughters." 

The  first  band  of  King's  Daughters  started  in  Yonkers 
was  formed  by  Mary  B.  Kellinger,  which  met  first  at  her 
home,  October  ii,  1886.  The  members  were:  Miss  Mary 
B.  Kellinger,  President,  Ellie  Hill,  Mary  Guilford,  Louise 
Shipman,  Alice  Booth,  Ada  Beardsley,  Frances  Thayer, 
and  Margaret  Nye.     Their  motto  is 

"  LEND  A  HANDr 

In  1886  this  Circle  contributed  various  gifts  to  St. 
John's  Riverside  Hospital,  and  in  1889  garments  and  cro- 
cheted articles  were  made  for  St.  John's  missionary  boxes, 
and  seventy  dollars  sent  to  Miss  Margaret  Scott's  mission 
in  Liberia,  Africa. 


ST.    JOHN'S    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  57 

By  the  aid  of  a  younger  Ten,  whose  president  is  Miss 
Edith  Morgan,  a  number  of  garments  were  made  for  St. 
John's  Dorcas  Society. 

CHICLE   "NO.  2." 

Miss  Grace  Wellman,  President,  Miss  Verplanck,  Anna 
Clark,  Julia  Sherman,  Nellie  Scrugham,  the  Misses  De 
Wint,  Mrs.  Fisher  Morris,  and  Mrs.  Edward  Verplanck. 
Object — Baptism. 

Gifts  for  the  sick  poor  and  articles  for  a  fair  for  the 
benefit  of  Bishop  Brewer's  Hospital  were  made  by  the  circle 
in  1889.     Also  gifts  for  the  "  Yonkers  Nursery  and  Home." 

CIRCLE  "NO.   3." 
GOLDEN  RULE  CIRCLE,  K.  D. 
Mrs.  Hastings,  President,  Ada  B.  Belknap,  Secretary, 
Susan  Clark,  Lizzie  Williams,   May  Bashford,  Mary  Cobb, 
Miss  Reinfelder,  and  Mrs.  Beardsley. 

The  Golden  Rule  Circle  is  composed  of  three  Tens :  a 
young  ladies'  Ten,  a  Ten  of  married  ladies,  and  a  Ten  of 
young  men.  The  Circle  was  formed  by  Mrs.  Esther  E. 
Hastings,  who  is  President  of  the  several  Tens.  The  special 
object  of  the  Circle  is  to  help  the  sick  and  poor. 
CIRCLE  "NO.  4." 
''LOVE  AND  SERVEr 

Miss  Bashford,  President,  Mrs.  John  Copcutt,  Elizabeth 
Katharine  Humason,  Carol  Seymour  Humason,  Alice  M. 
Edgar,  Gertrude  E.  Underhill,  Marion  A.  Chase,  Gertrude 
Chase,  Carrie  Emerson,  Adeline  F.  Keeler,  Annie  Mason, 
and  Katharine  Getty.  Organized  February  14,  1889.  Ob- 
ject— To  sew  for  some  poor  little  needy  ones. 

The  primary  department  of  the  school  is  efficiently 
taught  by  Mrs.  E.  L.  Chapman,  who  is  assisted  by  Miss 
Sarah  Hill  and  Mrs.  L.  C.  Wray.  The  Commandments, 
the  Apostles'  Creed,  the  Church  Catechism,  and  lessons 
from  "The  Story  of  the  Bible"  are  taught.  "The  Pic- 
torial Gospel  Reading,"  consisting  of  large  colored  pic- 
tures illustrative  of  the  lesson,  is  used,  and  a  paper  en- 
titled "The  Young  Christian  Soldier"  is  distributed. 
This   department,  under   its   present   superintendent,  has 


58  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

largely  increased  in  interest  and  membership  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pupils  to  its  present  number,  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five. 

The  largest  and  advanced  Bible-class  in  the  school 
is  taught  by  Mrs,  E.  L.  Chapman.  This  class  numbers 
from  thirty-five  to  forty  members  of  men  and  women,  many 
of  whom  are  heads  of  families. 

Mrs.  Dewitt  C.  Kellinger  is  in  charge  of  a  large  and  in- 
teresting class  of  young  ladies  numbering  twenty. 

The  rector,  desiring  to  increase  the  interest  of  the  boys 
in  the  church  and  Sunday  work,  suggested  the  organization 
of  a  boys'  club,  "  with  weekly  meetings,  when  such  exer- 
cises or  amusements  could  be  enjoyed  by  them  as  would 
make  their  connection  with  the  Sunday-school  a  source  of 
pleasure  and  relaxation,  as  well  as  a  duty." 

A  boys'  club  was  organized,  the  name  of  St.  John's 
Cadets  was  adopted  ;  and  an  eagle  on  a  pink  ribbon,  bear- 
ing the  motto  "  Onward,"  was  selected  as  the  badge.  The 
first  meeting  was  on  Tuesday,  November  5,  1888.  The 
second  meeting  was  held  on  Thursday,  November  14,  when 
there  were  sixty-six  boys  present. 

As  the  movement  was  naturally  a  parochial  one,  and  it 
was  thought,  also,  that  such  a  course  Vv^ould  be  interesting 
and  attractive  to  the  boys,  it  was  decided  to  adopt  a  system 
of  issuing  certificates  of  membership  to  be  countersigned 
by  the  Sunday-school  teacher. 

The  cadets  are  under  the  supervision  of  the  following 
gentlemen:  Commandant,  Henry  T.  Bragg  (late  Captain  13th 
Regiment,  N.  G.,  S.  N.  Y.) ;  assisted  by  Mr.  William  B.  Froe- 
ligh  (of  3d  Battery,  N.  G.,  S.  N.  Y.),  and  Mr.  August  Miller. 

The  meetings  are  held  weekly  on  Thursday  evening, 
at  7:30,  in  the  chapel. 

St.  John's  Church  was  crowded  with  children  and 
friends  on  Saturday  evening  at  six  o'clock,  December  28, 
1889,  when  the  Sunday-school  festival  was  held.  A  large 
and  beautifully  decorated  Christmas-tree  stood  in  the  chan- 
cel, surmounted  by  a  star. 

The  rector,  the  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver,  conducted  the 
services,  and  delivered  a  very  felicitous  fifteen-minute  ad- 
dress that  interested  the  children  greatly.     He  illustrated 


ST.  JOHN'S    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  59 

in  simple  language  the  fact  that  something  good  is  pretty 
certain  to  come  out  of  whatever  seems  hard  to  accomplish 
or  to  understand,  and  that  troubles  in  this  life  are  prepara- 
tory to  appreciation  of  the  joys  in  the  life  to  come. 

Seven  carols  were  sung  by  the  school,  and  one  by  the 
infant  class.  The  latter  was  rendered  with  the  usual  child- 
ish vigor  that  never  fails  to  please.  The  second  carol  sung 
by  the  school  was  one  the  words  and  music  of  which  were 
composed  by  Mrs.  Alexander  B.  Carver.  The  music  was 
pretty,  and  the  words  were  as  follows : 

Hail  to  thee,  thou  Prince  of  glory! 

Ring  the  joy-bells  far  and  wide  ; 
Welcome  to  the  blessed  Christ-child, 

Welcome  now  to  Christmas-tide. 

Chorus. — Alleluia  !  Alleluia  ! 
Echoing  hills  take  up  the  strain. 

Alleluia !  Alleluia ! 
Christ  has  come  to  earth  again. 

Heavenly  realms  resound  with  music, 

Seraphim  adore  thy  face. 
We  on  earth  are  lowly  bending, 

Bless  us  with  thy  royal  grace. 

Chant  we  of  thy  glorious  advent; 

Listening  choirs,  from  far  above. 
Catch  the  glad  refrain,  and  answer  : 

Crown  him  Prince  of  Peace  and  Love  ! 

The  little  children's  presents  were  dolls  and  toys,  and 
rich  and  wholesome  candies  were  distributed.  The  elder 
scholars  received  books  principally,  It  was  a  very  happy 
occasion. 

The  opening  exercises  of  the  school  are  always  con- 
ducted by  the  rector  when  present,  and  at  the  opening,  re- 
cently, the  Rev.  Alexander  Carver,  rector,  in  a  few  brief  re- 
marks, spoke  of  his  earnest  desire  for  its  prosperity,  and 
hoped  that  the  teachers  would  unite  with  him  in  his  efforts 
to  make  the  school  attractive.  He  also  commended  the 
pupils  for  their  singing  and  for  so  heartily  uniting  in  the 
responsive  reading,  and  said  while  doing  so  well,  they  could 
still  do  better,  and  mentioned  his  intention  of  having  the 
first   Sunday  in  the  month  set  apart    for  catechising  the 


6o  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

children  from  the  Church  Catechism,  and.  in  conchision  said, 
"  You  do  not  come  here  primarily  to  learn  about  the  church, 
but  more  than  that :  you  come  to  study  and  learn  about  the 
life  of  Christ  and  his  teachings — Christ  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  Christ  in  the  New  Testament." 

The  lessons  taught  in  this  school  are  from  the  Old  and 
New  Testament  and  Church  Catechism.  The  collections 
taken  up  are  appropriated  to  the  Sunday-school  and  mis- 
sionary work.  Collections  for  missionary  work  are  taken 
up  at  the  Christmas  and  Easter  festivals. 

One  of  the  pupils  of  this  Sunday-school,  the  son  of  the 
Rev.  Henry  Lemuel  Storrs,  D.  D.,  entered  the  ministry.  A 
son  of  Henry  Anstice,  a  former  superintendent  of  the  same 
school,  entered  the  ministry,  and  is  now  the  Rev.  Henry 
Anstice,  D.  D.,  rector  of  the  vSt.  Luke's  Episcopal  Church, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has  been  located  for  the  past 
twenty  years. 

We  have  given  simply  the  history  of  the  school  in 
facts  and  figures.  The  spiritual  work  of  the  school  cannot 
be  so  estimated  nor  fully  known  until  "  the  day  shall  de- 
clare it."  Suffice  it  to  say  this  is  the  primary  thought  in 
the  minds  of  rector,  superintendent,  and  teachers.  From 
this  Sunday-school  many  have  been  confirmed  and  are  now 
consistent  and  active  members  of  the  church. 

The  names  of  the  superintendents  who  have  had 
charge  of  the  school,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  are: 
Thaddeus  Rockwell,  who  served  under  the  rectorship  of  the 
Rev.  Alex.  H.  Crosby ;  Thomas  O.  Farrington,  who  served 
under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Lemuel  Storrs ; 
Henry  Anstice,  served  under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev. 
Abraham  Beach  Carter,  D.  D.;  John  N.  Stearns,  under  the 
rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Abraham  Beach  Carter,  D.  D. ;  S. 
Emmet  Getty,  under  the  rectorships  of  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Carter,  Thomas  A.  Jaggar,  and  William  S.  Langford. 

John  P.  Groshon  took  charge  of  the  school  in  May, 
1875,  and  has  served  under  the  rectorships  of  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  the  Rev.  Addison  B.  Atkins,  D.  D., 
and  the  Rev.  James  Haughton.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  August  Ulmann,  late  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Yon- 
kers,  who  served  under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  James 


ST.    JOHN'S    SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 


61 


Haughton,  then  by  the  Rev.  R.  Herbert  Gesner,  who  is 
now  rector  of  the  Hyde  Park  (N.  Y.)  Episcopal  Church, 
under  the  Rev.  James  Haughton. 

John  P.  Groshon  was  again  appointed  by  the  Rev. 
Alexander  B.  Carver,  who  came  to  the  parish  May  15,  1877. 
The  record  book  shows  an  interesting  fact,  that  Mr.  Gro- 
shon, during  the  entire  term  of  thirteen  years  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  school,  has  never  been  late  or  absent. 

Mr.  -Samuel  A.  Moore,  for  his  long  term  of  service  of 
twenty  years  as  teacher  in  connection  with  this  Sunday- 
school,  has  his  name  enrolled  among  the  honorary  list  of 
Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

Sunday-school  offerings  for  year  ending  September, 
1889,  $162  82.  The  present  enrolment,  April,  1890:  Bible 
classes,  60 ;  intermediate,  300 ;  primary,  240 ;  officers  and 
teachers,  ij.     Total,  650. 

The  present  officers  and  teachers  of  the  Sunday-school 
are  as  follows : 


Superintendent, 

Lay  Superintendent, 

Assistant  Superintendettt, 

Secretary, 

Librarian, 

Assistant  Librarian, 

Organist, 

Miss  Moore, 
Miss  Skinner, 
Miss  M.  Guilford, 
Miss  Verplanck, 
Miss  Wellman, 
Mr.  Wm.  Gaul, 
Mr.  H.  Back, 
Miss  E.  Varian, 
Miss  J.  Waring, 
Miss  A.  B.  Belknap, 
Miss  Hoheim, 
Mr.  Miller, 
Mrs.  Humason, 
Miss  Shotts, 
Miss  Rose, 


The  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver. 

John  P.  Groshon. 

James  E.  Freeman. 

R.  E.  Belknap. 

Ernest  Getty. 

Wallace  Guilford. 

Miss  Minnie  Bayer. 


Teachers. 


Miss  Kerr, 
Mrs.  George  Cobb, 
Miss  Clark, 
Mr.  Sheldon, 
Mrs.  Close, 
Mrs.  Farrington, 
Miss  Borgman, 
Miss  S.  Waring, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Clark, 
Miss  Barber, 
Miss  Belknap, 
Miss  Bashford, 
Miss  Taylor, 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Freeman, 
Miss  Emerson. 


TEACHERS  OF   PRIMARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Mrs.  Eliza  L.  Chapman.  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  2nd  Ass't. 

Mrs.  Lizzie  C.  Wray,  ist  Ass't. 


Miss  Minnie  Bayer,  Organist. 


62  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK, 

Total  number  of  scholars  of  all  ages  for  1891,  460. 
Total  number  of  scholars  in  Primary  Department,  240. 
Mrs.  D.  C.  Kellinger's  Adult  Bible-Class,  25. 
Mrs.  E.  L.  Chapman's  Adult  Bible-Class,  40. 
Mr.  James  E.  Freeman's  Adult  Bible-Class,  20. 
Sunday-school  offerings,  $300. 
In  Library,  Books,  611. 


THE    MILE    SQUARE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  63 

CHAPTER    II. 

THE  MILE  SQUARE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  town  of  Yonkers,  bordering  the 
Bronx  River,  is  situated  a  tract  of  land  called  the  Mile 
Square,  lying  principally  in  a  beautiful  vale  watered  by  the 
river  and  sheltered  by  picturesque  hills.  This  tract  was 
exempted  out  of  the  great  manorial  patent  of  1693,  and 
appears  originally  to  have  formed  a  part  of  the  possessions 
of  the  Doughtys  of  Flushing,  as  we  find  John  Doughty,  of 
that  place,  in  1670,  selling  sixty-four  acres  of  land  here,  in 
one  square  mile,  to  Francis  French,  Ebenezer  Jones,  and 
John  Wascot.  In  the  year  1685  John  Hiatt,  of  Bronx's 
River,  deeds  sixty  acres  of  upland  to  Hopestill  Betts,  of  the 
Younckers,  this  sale  being  a  part  of  the  whole  tract  of  land 
called  by  the  name  of  the  Mile  Square.  Tradition  says 
that  this  place  was  given  by  Frederick  Philipse  as  a  dower 
portion  when  his  daughter  Annetje  married  Philip  French. 
From  the  French  and  Jones  family  it  passed  by  sale  to  the 
Oakleys,  Bertines,  Curwells,  Sherwoods,  and  Riches. 

Mile  Square  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  was  a 
favorite  camp-ground  with  both  armies,  on  account  of  its 
sheltered  situation  and  vicinity  to  the  water.  Here  were 
quartered  Col.  Emmerick's  British  Light  Horse,  and  the 
British  Hussars  were  billeted  here  for  several  summers. 
For  security  the  roads  were  patrolled  and  videttes  stretched 
along  the  neighboring  heights. 

In  1776  the  American  Rifle  Corps  were  stationed  here, 
and  from  this  place  crossed  the  Bronx  to  attack  and  harass 
the  British  flank  as  they  moved  towards  White  Plains, 
after  landing  on  Throgmorton's  Neck.  Subsequent  to  the 
memorable  battle  of  White  Plains  the  British  returned  to 
Mile  Square,  reconstructed  Hunt's  bridge,  and  occupied 
the  hill  forts.^ 

In  the  old  district  schoolhouse  of  this  historic  little 
hamlet  a  Sunday-school  was  opened  in  1836-37  by  Miss  Car- 

*  Bolton's  History  of  the  County  of  Westchester,  page  430. 


64  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

oline  Jones,  daughter  of  William  Jones,  warden  in  St.  John's 
Church,  Yonkers,  who  was  commonly  known  as  "  Gentle- 
man Jones,"  on  account  of  his  uniform  urbanity  of  manner. 

Miss  Jones  was  assisted  by  a  Mrs.  Tremaine.  Both 
were  deeply  interested  in  the  prosperity  and  success  of  the 
little  enterprise,  and  devoted  their  time  and  means  to  ad- 
vance its  interests.  Miss  Jones  was  the  superintendent 
and  led  the  singing,  and  the  pupils  became  very  much 
attached  to  her.  She  always  remembered  them  by  beauti- 
ful gifts  at  Christmas.  The  school  at  that  time  numbered 
between  twenty  and  twenty-five  scholars.  The  teachers 
were  Misses  Sarah  and  Louisa  Jones,  sisters  of  the  super- 
intendent, and  Isaac  Sherwood.  The  Rev.  Alexander  H. 
Crosby,  the  rector  of  St.  John's  Church  in  Yonkers,  fre- 
quently visited  this  school  and  catechised  the  children  in 
the  Church  Catechism,  as  did  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Henry 
L.  Storrs,  who  interested  the  children  by  his  pleasant  talks 
to  them. 

How  long  Miss  Jones  took  charge  of  the  school  cannot 
be  definitely  ascertained.  Some  of  the  present  residents  of 
Mile  Square  have  Prayer  Books  which  were  given  to  them 
while  pupils  in  this  Sunday-school,  and  the  date  of  their 
presentation,  in  the  handwriting  of  Miss  Jones,  is  1841. 

In  the  year  1850  James  Odell  was  the  superintendent, 
and  in  the  year  1854  Miss  Anna  Seymour  (now  Mrs.  George 
Burgess),  was  vsuperintendent  for  a  brief  period.  From 
that  date  the  school  became  a  union  effort,  and  members 
from  different  denominations  took  an  interest  in  it,  and 
among  its  teachers  were  those  who  belonged  to  the  Episco- 
palian, Presbyterian,  Congregationalist,  Baptist,  Methodist, 
and  Reformed  Churches.  From  this  time  it  was  known  as 
"  The  Mile  Square  Union  Sunday-school." 

No  written  record  of  the  school  since  the  above  men- 
tioned date  can  be  found,  consequently  the  information 
obtained  and  the  facts  stated  are  from  those  who  have  been 
connected  with  it  during  the  following  years. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Miss  Julia  E.  Hunter  and  her 
mother,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hunter,  who  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Yonkers,  a 
few  children  were  gathered  in  the  year  1859,  and  Lucius 


THE    MILE   SQUARE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  65 

Spring,  a  son  of  Rev.  Gardiner  Spring,  D.  D.,  was  made 
superintendent. 

Mrs.  Isaac  S.  Valentine,  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Hunter,  and 
Miss  Julia  E.  Hunter  were  the  teachers  at  this  time.  The 
school  flourished  and  soon  aroused  an  interest  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. A  Mr.  Watt  succeeded  Mr.  Spring  as  superin- 
tendent, the  latter  moving  away  from  the  place. 

Edward  A.  Morrison,  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  New  York,  was  elected  superintendent  and 
served  about  one  year,  the  school  then  numbering  between 
twenty-five  and  thirty  scholars.  Airs.  Hunter,  Miss  Julia 
E.  Hunter,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Valentine,  Miss  Fanny  M.  Val- 
entine, and  two  others,  whose  names  cannot  be  recalled, 
were  the  teachers. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1873  Marshall  H.  Clement, 
then  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Mt.  Vernon, 
N.  Y.,  now  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
the  same  place,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  ]\Ir.  Morrison, 
became  superintendent,  and  through  his  faithful  efforts  a 
new  impetus  was  given  to  the  school  and  it  increased  in 
numbers  and  usefulness.  When  Mr.  Clement  took  charge  of 
the  school  it  numbered  forty  pupils,  and  during  his  super- 
intendency  it  increased  to  sixty.  He  continued  with  the 
school  until  the  fall  of  1885.  During  these  twelve  years  he 
was  assisted  by  an  earnest  working  corps  of  teachers. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  John  Thurton  the  "  Mile 
Square  Christian  Association  "  was  organized  and  in  coope- 
ration with  the  Sunday-school  a  large  fair  was  held  in  the 
adjacent  fields.  Mrs.  Thurton,  Miss  Kate  Roberts,  Miss 
Anna  Kolb,  John  Mcintosh,  and  Samuel  Stilwell,  with 
many  others,  were  actively  engaged  in  this  enterprise, 
which  resulted  in  the  raising  of  the  sum  of  $800  towards 
the  building  fund  of  a  church,  which  fund  now  amounts  to 
about  $1,200,  still  held  in  trust  for  this  object. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Yonkers,  began  volunteer  preaching  ser- 
vices, and  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Mancius  H.  Hutton, 
of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Mt.  Vernon,  an  evening  service 
was  held  every  month. 

Rev,  Mr.  Hutton,  finding  that  he  was  unable  to  con- 

Chu?ch  and  Sunday-Bchooi  Work.  c 


66  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

tinue  this  extra  service  besides  the  regular  services  of  his 
own  church,  withdrew,  and  services  were  inaugurated  and 
regularly  held,  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  assisted  by 
some  of  the  laymen  of  his  own  church  at  Yonkers.  D'r. 
Cole  continued  to  carry  on  these  monthly  services  for  six 
years.  They  were  well  attended  and  the  audience  frequent- 
ly numbered  seventy-five,  all  the  building  could  accom- 
modate. These  labors  of  Dr.  Cole,  through  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  were  greatly  blessed,  and  through  his 
instrumentality  very  many  were  gathered  into  the  church. 
Mr.  Thurton  and  family  united  with  the  church  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non, and  others  with  Dr.  Cole's  church  in  Yonkers. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Clement,  in  1885,  the  in- 
terest in  the  school  began  to  decline,  and  owing  to  the 
removals  of  both  teachers  and  pupils  from  the  place,  it  was 
reduced  to  eighteen  scholars.  A  vigorous  effort  was  then 
made  by  Mr.  Wilson  and  Miss  J.  E.  Hunter  to  revive  the 
interest  and  increase  its  numbers.  Together  they  visited 
all  the  families  who  were  then  connected  with  it,  or  had 
been,  and  urged  the  attendance  of  the  children.  For  a  few 
Sundays  there  was  a  slight  increase  in  attendance ;  but  it 
soon  fell  off  and  the  school  numbered  about  ten  scholars. 
Miss  Julia  E.  Hunter  and  Miss  Frances  Mankin  continued 
to  meet  with  the  remaining  few  until  cold  weather,  and  as 
the  accommodations  were  very  poor  and  the  interest  so 
small,  they  disbanded.  The  school  remains  for  the  present 
closed. 

A  movement  is  being  made  which  it  is  hoped  will 
result  in  the  reopening  of  this  Sunday-school  in  the  near 
future.  To  all  the  earnest  and  faithful  workers  who  have 
sown  and  who  shall  continue  to  sow  spiritual  seed  in  that 
part  of  the  Master's  vineyard,  this  promise  is  peculiarly 
appropriate  and  comforting:  "  And  he  that  reapeth  receiv- 
eth  wages  and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life  eternal,  that  both 
he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reapeth  may  rejoice  together." 

"What 's  done  for  time  ends  by-and-by, 
What 's  done  for  God  can  never  die." 

The  names  of  the  superintendents,  so  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  are  as  follows :  Miss  Caroline  Jones,  who  served 


THE  MILE  SQUARE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         6^ 

from  1836  to  1 841,  and  who  was  succeeded  by  James  Odell; 
then  Miss  Anna  Seymour,  Isaac  S.  Valentine,  Lucius 
Spring,  Mr.  Watt,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hunter,  Horace  H.  Thayer, 
Edward  A.  Morrison,  and  Marshall  H.  Clement. 

The  teachers  who  have  been  connected  with  the  school 
at  different  times  are :  Mrs.  Tremaine,  Miss  Sarah  Jones, 
Miss  Louisa  Jones,  Miss  Anna  Seymour,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hunter, 
Miss  Julia  E.  Hunter,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Valentine,  Miss  Fanny 
M.  Valentine,  Miss  Kate  Hunter,  Miss  Natalie  Jones,  the 
Misses  Hoffman,  Miss  Frances  G.  Mankin,  Mrs.  Thurton, 
Mr.  Wilson,  Horace  H.  Thayer,  Fletcher  A.  Valentine,  and 
William  Piatt. 


68  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   ST.   JOHN'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   (aT   TUCKAHOE)   AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  parish  (after  existing  for  more  than  a  half  a  cen- 
tury as  a  chapel  of  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
having  had  its  connection  with  the  above-mentioned  parish 
severed  by  an  act  of  the  Vestry  thereof)  was  founded  by  the 
Rev.  Elias  Cooper,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church  from  1789  to 
1 8 16,  and  organized  according  to  law  July  18,  1853.  The 
church  edifice,  which  was  erected  in  1798,  is  a  small  wooden 
structure,  and  stands  on  high  ground,  commanding  an  ex- 
tensive view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  ground  was 
a  gift  of  Mr.  John  Bowne.  On  June  29,  1847,  the  church 
was  consecrated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  under  the 
name  of  St.  John's  Chapel,  Tuckahoe,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
William  Heathcote  de  Lancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  the  conse- 
cration sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  W. 
Coit,  D.  D.,  a  late  rector  of  New  Rochelle. 

Half  an  acre  of  land  was  presented  to  the  Corporation 
by  John  and  Elias  Cooper,  sons  of  the  late  John  Bowne,  Esq., 
upon  which  the  vestry  erected  a  parsonage. 

The  number  of  baptisms  in  1835  was  three,  communi- 
cants sixteen.  The  statistics  of  the  church  in  1883  were  as 
follows:  Communicants,  55;  catechists  and  Sunday-school 
teachers,  6 ;  Sunday-school  children,  34.  The  money  con- 
tributed in  1882  was  $1,125  50,  of  which  $1,000  was  devoted 
to  parish  purposes. 

During  the  year  1 888  the  church  built  a  rectory,  which 
was  completed  in  1889,  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars 
(with  no  indebtedness)  upon  grounds  given  to  the  church. 
The  amount  contributed  for  support  of  church  is  about 
$700  for  the  year  1889.  The  rectors  and  supplies  of  the 
church  have  been  as  follows: 

The  Rev.  Charles  Jones,  A.  M.,  who  was  the  first  rector, 
from  1853-58. 


ST.   JOHN'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH,  TUCKAHOE.  69 

The  Rev.  Augustus  St.  Clair,  supply  only,  from  1859-60. 
The  Rev.  David  Doremus,  supply  only,  from  1860-61. 
No  incumbent  from  1861-65. 

The  Rev.  Angus  M.  Ives,  supply  only,  from  1865-80, 
who  served  the  church  most  faithfully  for  fifteen  years  and 
was  greatly  beloved  by  his  people,  who  erected  a  wall  tablet 
to  his  memory  in  the  church. 

The  Rev.  A.  M.  Ives  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  S.  B. 
Moore  and  the  Rev.  James  B.  Neis. 

The  present  rector  is  the  Rev.  John  W.  Trimble,  who 
received  and  accepted  a  call  to  become  the  rector  of  St 
John's  Episcopal  Church  at  Tuckahoe  October  26,  1889. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  Charles  R.  Dusen- 
berry  and  William  H.  Underbill,  wardens ;  Wilbur  S.  Un- 
derbill, Robert  Thedford,  Caleb  A.  Ives,  Henry  M.  Under- 
bill, Samuel  B.  Jones,  Thomas  Dunn,  Richard  Thomson, 
and  Samuel  S.  Horton,  vestrymen. 

Parochial  statistics,  September  i ,  1 890 : 

Number  of  souls 114 

Baptisms  -       6 

Confirmed  41 

Marriages  i 

Burials  3 

Communicants 69 

Expenditures,  total,  for  all  objects,  1890,  I983  05. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  Sunday-school  connected  with  this  church  "  was 
organized  about  the  time  the  church  was  built,  which  was 
in  1798."  The  present  number  of  pupils  on  the  roll  is  fifty- 
five. 

"  The  Christmas  festival  of  St.  John's  Church,  Tucka- 
hoe, was  held  Monday  evening,  December  29,  1890.  The 
church  was  beautifully  decorated  with  wreaths,  arches,  and 
festoons  of  hemlock,  holly,  and  laurel.  A  very  beautiful 
Christmas-tree  stood  in  front  of  the  chancel,  loaded  with 
glittering  ornaments,  and  these  covered  with  a  veil  of  silver 
and  golden  tinsel. 

"  Back  of  the  tree,  on  either  side,  were  hung  great  bells 
of  white  and  silver,  bells  of  all  sizes,  which  seemed  to  ring 
out  the  joyous  Christmas  chimes.      These,  with  the  tree 


70  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

and  red  walls  of  the  chancel  for  background,  made  a  very 
brilliant  and  beautiful  sight. 

"  The  rector,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Trimble,  was  assisted  by 
the  Rev.  E.  L.  Hoffecker,  of  the  Asbury  Methodist  Church, 
who  read  the  lesson  and  delivered  the  first  '  Christmas 
greeting.'  The  Rev.  Mr.  Trimble  gave  the  second  greet- 
ing, which  was  a  hearty  and  merry  one. 

"  The  singing  of  the  carols  by  the  school  was  very  fine, 
being  accompanied  by  the  organ  and  violin.  Noticeable 
among  these  were  the  carols,  '  Ring  on,  sweet  bells,'  and 
'  What  do  they  say,  these  bells,  to  me  ?'  The  closing  prayer 
was  by  the  school,  all  kneeling,  '  Now  I  lay  me  down  to 
sleep ' — a  very  appropriate  ending  for  the  little  ones'  festi- 
val. 

"While  the  gifts  were  being  distributed,  C.  M.  Staab 
sang  very  sweetly  the  old  hymn, '  Holy  Night,  Silent  Night,' 
which  is  always  beautiful  at  Christmas-time. 

"Among  the  gifts  distributed  was  a  silver  match-box, 
with  a  substantial  lining,  from  the  St.  John's  Legion  to  the 
rector.  Gifts  between  teachers  and  scholars  were  also  ex- 
changed." 

The  present  superintendent  is  Charles  R.  Dusenberry. 
The  names  of  teachers  are :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilbur  S.  Under- 
hill,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Raisbeck,  Miss  Fannie  Fee,  Miss  Lelie  Fee, 
Miss  Mary  Fulton,  Miss  Sarah  Horton,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Booker. 

Sunday-school  offering,  for  September,  1890,  $71  20. 


FIRST   METHODIST   CHURCH,   TUCKAHOE.  71 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE   FIRST    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   OF   YONKERS 
(at   TUCKAHOE)   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  information  concerning  this  church  is  obtained 
from  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham,  and  from  the  present 
pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  Edmund  L.  Hoffecker. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ketcham  writes:  "The  time  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism  into  Yonkers  cannot  be  definitely  stated. 
A  Methodist  society  was  formed  at  Tuckahoe  in  1771,  the 
same  year  in  which  Methodism  was  introduced  into  New 
Rochelle  by  Rev.  Joseph  Pilmoor,  one  of  Rev.  John  Wes- 
ley's missionaries. 

"  The  Rev.  Francis  Asbury  (who  subsequently  became 
bishop)  preached  at  Tuckahoe  in  177 1.  In  the  year  1773 
Mr.  Peter  Bonnett  was  active  in  securing-  preaching-places, 
and  opened  his  own  house  for  the  Methodists.  After  his 
decease,  Mrs.  Sherwood,  who  was  a  widow,  opened  her 
house,  and  it  became  a  regular  preaching -place.  This 
house  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Mr. 
Charles  R.  Dusenbury.  In  July,  1797,  Bishop  Asbury 
writes :  '  I  met  the  society  at  the  substitute  house '  (the 
widow  Sherwood's)  .  .  . 

"  Thus,  after  twenty-six  years  since  this  society  was 
formed,  they  are  about  to  build  a  place  for  the  worship  and 
the  word  of  God. 

"That  church  (Tuckahoe)  was  dedicated  Christmas 
day,  1 797,  by  Bishop  Asbury.  He,  being  too  feeble  to  walk, 
was  carried  in  a  chair  from  Mrs.  Sherwood's  house  to  the 
church,  and  performed  the  ceremony  seated  in  a  chair. 
Moses  Sherwood  deeded  ground  for  the  church  for  the 
consideration  of  twenty-five  dollars.  The  church  was  organ- 
ized at  that  time,  Christmas  day,  December,  1797,  but  was 
never  legally  incorporated  till  February  13,  1855." 

The  first  Trustees  were  elected  December  25,  1800. 
They  were,  First  Class,  Lewis  Dubois  and  Henry  Cronck. 


72  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Second  Class,  Jonathan  Sherwood  and  Bishop  Sherwood. 
Third  Class,  Aaron  Lawrence  and  Jabez  Fowler.  On  the 
minute-book  of  the  church  under  date  of  December  25,  1818, 
the  election  of  Peter  Underhill  and  Jonathan  Sherwood  as 
trustees,  to  fill  vacancies,  is  recorded. 

The  church  at  Tuckahoe  was  within  the  circuit  of  what 
was  called  the  New  Rochelle  circuit  from  1798  to  1825. 
Then  from  1826  to  1852  it  was  with  a  circuit  which  from 
1826  to  1836  bore  the  name  of  the  Kingsbridge  circuit,  and 
from  1836  to  1852  the  name  of  the  Yonkers  circuit.  Be- 
tween the  last  two  dates  the  churches  of  Kingsbridge  (or 
Mosholn),  Yonkers,  on  North  Broadway,  and  Tuckahoe 
were  joined  together,  but  between  1853  and  1858  Yonkers 
was  dropped  from  this  connection,  and  Mosholn  and  Tuck- 
ahoe were  left  by  themselves.  In  1858  Tuckahoe  was  made 
a  separate  station.  From  that  date  the  preachers  for  Tuck- 
ahoe till  1867  were  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mead,  1858-59;  Rev.  W. 
H.  Evans,  1859-60;  Rev.  A.  M.  Hough,  1860-62;  Rev. 
Aaron  K.  Sandford,  1862-64;  Rev.  Erastus  L.  Prentice, 
1864-67. 

The  church  edifice  now  in  use  was  erected  in  1866. 
Tuckahoe  marble  was  used  in  its  construction.  There  is  a 
tablet  over  the  main  entrance  door  in  front  of  the  church 
with  these  words  upon  it,  "  Asbury  Centenary  M.  E.  Church, 
1 866,"  which  is  incorrect  as  to  the  name  of  the  church.  The 
corporate  name  of  the  church  is  "  The  First  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Yonkers."  This  church  has  borne  the  said 
corporate  name  for  nearly  a  century.  The  church  is  in  the 
town  of  Yonkers. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  in  September, 
1 866,  by  Bishop  Edward  S.  Janes,  and  was  also  dedicated  by 
him  on  February  20,  1 867.  It  was  built  under  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Erastus  L.  Prentice.  The  preachers  from  the 
date  of  dedication  have  been,  Rev.  Gideon  Draper,  D.  D., 
Rev.  S.  M.  Vernon,  Rev.  John  W.  Ackerley,  Rev.  Oscar 
Haviland,  Rev.  Benjamin  N.  Lewis,  Rev.  George  W.  Tar- 
bush,  Rev.  John  W.  Selleck,  Rev.  Frank  Bottome,  D.  D., 
Rev.  David  McCartney.  The  parsonage  was  built  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mead,  in  1858. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Edmund  L.  Hoffecker,  who  is 


FIRST   METHODIST   CHURCH,   TUCKAHOE.  JT, 

serving  the  church  with  great  acceptance,  was  appointed  in 
April,  1888.  He  is  a  Marylander  by  birth,  and  of  an  old 
slave-holding  family.  He  was  born  in  1853,  became  a 
Christian  in  1869,  was  educated  at  Washington  College,  and 
entered  the  ministry  in  1876.  Such  are  the  bare  facts  of  a 
somewhat  laborious  life.  In  May,  1889,  a  fine  pipe  organ 
was  erected  in  the  church.  It  is  a  very  handsome  instru- 
ment with  cathedral  finish.  Mrs.  Julie  Lent,  ncc  Merritt, 
presides  at  the  organ,  and  plays  with  skill  and  efficiency. 
The  new  organ  adds  much  attraction  to  the  church  and 
dignity  to  the  services.  The  church  is  in  a  better  condition 
now  than  for  some  years.  The  congregation  is  larger,  and 
the  church  property  was  never  in  a  better  condition.  The 
valuation  of  the  church  property  is  $35,000.  The  amount 
contributed  for  benevolence  in  1887  was  one  hundred  and 
seventy  dollars.  The  amount  contributed  for  missions  and 
for  other  benevolent  collections  for  the  Conference  year 
ending  April,  1 890,  was  two  hundred  and  twenty-six  dollars. 
The  present  membership  is  one  hundred.  The  present 
Trustees  are  as  follows :  Nathaniel  Reynolds,  Pres. ;  Her- 
bert Lent,  Sec. ;  I.  V.  Underbill,  Caleb  T.  Underbill,  Chas. 
A.  Hodgman,  George  Ferris,  Chas.  Dusenberry,  Frank  De 
Frate,  James  Young. 

Stewards:  Nathan  Reynolds,  I.  V.  Vanderbilt,  C.  F. 
Underbill,  Chas.  A.  Hodgman,  Frank  De  Frate,  Jesse  Rey- 
nolds, I.  N.  Matthews. 

In  the  graveyard  connected  with  this  church  the  oldest 
stone  bears  the  date  1 800. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  Sunday-school  was  established  about  the  year 
1797,  and  has  prospered  until  the  present  time.  The  su- 
perintendent of  the  school  in  1887  was  the  present  super- 
intendent, Isaac  V.  Underbill.  The  school  numbered 
seventy  pupils  and  fifteen  officers  and  teachers. 

At  this  writing.  May,  1 891,  it  has  eighty-nine  pupils  and 
fifteen  officers  and  teachers.  The  names  of  the  present 
officers  and  teachers  are  as  follows :  I.  V.  Underbill,  Super- 
intendent ;  George  Booker,  Librarian  and  Secretary. 
Teachers. — E.    L.    Hoffecker,    Mrs.    Lizzie   Merritt,  A.   O. 


74  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Young,  Iva  Lent,  Miss  Marie  Hodgman,  Annie  Davidson, 
Mrs.  Mary  Hodgman,  and  Mary  Swain. 

Miss  Annie  Davidson  has  the  primary  class.  In  all  the 
classes  the  Berean  Lessons,  Leaves  and  Quarterlies,  are 
used.  They  are  published  at  the  Book  Concern,  N.  Y. 
Four  persons  united  with  the  church  from  the  Sunday- 
school  during  the  year  1 889.  The  Sunday-school  contribu- 
ted for  missions  in  1 890  fifteen  dollars. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   AND  SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

(Corner  North  Broadway  and  Ashburton  Avenue.) 

"  This  church  is,  in  the  order  of  time,  the  second  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  founded  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  city  of  Yonkers. 

"  It  is  called  '  The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.'  That  it  is  not  '  The  First '  has  been 
shown  in  the  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Tuckahoe,  N.  Y.  And  also  in  the  minutes  of  the  New 
York  Conference  the  two  churches  have  been  spoken  of, 
not  by  their  corporate  names,  but  as  the  Tuckahoe  and 
Yonkers  churches." 

On  the  old  post  road  from  Albany,  facing  the  old 
country  road  to  the  Neperah,  or  Sawmill  River  (now  the 
northeast  corner  of  North  Broadway  and  Ashburton  Ave- 
nue), stood  the  little  district  schoolhouse  surrounded  by 
tall  poplar  and  weeping-willow  trees.  In  this  antiquated, 
dingy,  weather-beaten,  one-story  frame  building,  which 
consisted  of  one  room  12  by  28,  the  first  sermon  now  re- 
membered as  heard  in  Yonkers  from  a  Methodist  preacher 
was  delivered  in  the  year  1826.  A  class  of  five  members 
was  organized,  and  in  due  time  this  became  one  of  the 
regular  appointments  on  the  Kingsbridge  Circuit.  In  this 
old  building  church  services  were  held  about  once  a  month 
when  the  circuit  preacher  could  "  get  around." 

The  late  Searing  Howell,  of  this  city,  recalled  a  mem- 
orable occasion  in  connection  with  this  little  schoolhouse 
in  which  a  love  feast  was  held.  After  the  close  of  this  ser- 
vice the  congregation,  with  others  whom  the  room  could 
not  accommodate,  gathered  under  the  willow-trees  to  listen 
to  the  sermon  then  preached.  And  also  of  the  time  when 
the  subject  of  building  a  church  was  first  discussed,  at  a 
meeting  of  half  a  dozen  members  of  the  church.  This  was 
in  the  year  1826. 


1^  CHURCH  AND  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

"On  the  2ist  of  April,  1828,  a  free  deed  of  the  land 
upon  which  the  present  church  stands  was  given  by  Lem- 
uel Wells  to  Alfred  Thompson,  Frederic  Shonnard,  Thomas 
Griffin,  Joseph  Oakley,  and  David  Oakley,  in  trust  for  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Yonkers." 

At  the  close  of  that  year  the  church  building  was 
completed  and  dedicated.  Rev.  Noah  Levings,  "  the  silver- 
tongued  orator,"  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The 
building  was  a  small  wooden  structure,  painted  white  with 
green  blinds.  It  was  located  directly  opposite  the  little 
schoolhouse,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  old  Albany  post 
road  and  the  little  country  road  leading  to  the  Sawmill 
River,  the  latter  running  directly  in  front  of  the  building, 
the  site  of  which  is  now  the  southeast  corner  of  North 
Broadway  and  Ashburton  Avenue.  The  church  was  sur- 
rounded by  tall  cedar-trees,  the  entrance  being  on  the 
south  side. 

"On  the  14th  of  August,  1839,  Frederic  Shonnard  and 
wife,  '  for  the  love  and  affection  which  they  bore  towards 
said  church,  and  one  dollar,'  deeded  to  Christ  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — the  original  corporate  name — the  plot 
of  ground  used  for  the  parsonage."  This  was  the  first  par- 
sonage and  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  old  church  building. 
The  present  parsonage  was  built  in  187 1.     It  cost  $5,000. 

In  the  year  1854  the  old  church  building  was  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  transepts.  A  tower  was  also  put  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  building  and  the  main  entrance 
was  changed  from  the  south  to  the  west,  on  Broadway,  the 
entrance  on  the  south  still  remaining  in  use.  The  whole 
interior  of  the  church  was  renovated  and  beautified.  Be- 
hind the  pulpit  was  painted  a  beautiful  representation  of  a 
series  of  arches  and  columns  of  the  Doric  order  of  architec- 
ture, the  perspective  of  which  was  very  fine.  The  base- 
ment was  also  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday-school. 

December  28,  1878,  the  church  celebrated  the  semi- 
centennial of  Methodism  in  Yonkers. 

The  morning  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Fow- 
ler. At  three  P.  M.  Rev.  Dr.  Stratton  conducted  a  confer- 
ence meeting. 

The  evening  service  began  by  the  singing  of  "  All 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  77 

hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name,"  which  was  followed  by 
prayer  by  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.  Rev.  Dr.  Wheeler, 
editor  of  "  The  Methodist,"  preached  the  sermon.  An 
original  hymn,  which  was  written  for  the  occasion  by  a 
former  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  Frank  Bottome,  D.  D., 
was  sung.  Prof.  John  A.  Harding,  organist  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  led  the  singing  at  all  these  services.  To 
the  left  of  the  pulpit  were  placarded  the  following  statistics, 
setting  forth  the  wondrous  growth  of  the  denomination 
and  well  calculated  to  cheer  the  heart  of  every  Methodist. 

1766.     Members,  4  ;  preachers,  i. 

1778.     Members,  6,095  ;  preachers,  29. 

1828.  Members,  419,000;  preachers,  1,642.  Missionary 
collections,  $6,245. 

1878.  Members,  3,315,000;  preachers,  30,000.  ,  Value 
of  church  property,  $110,000,000.  Missionary  collections, 
$800,000.     Members  of  Sunday-school,  3,857,330. 

Rev.  L.  H.  King,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  church  at  that 
time,  prepared  a  list  of  the  names  of  its  useful  and  honored 
pastors,  twenty-seven  in  all,  since  its  organization.  These 
names  were  printed  on  white  muslin  charts  and  placed  on 
the  wall  and  at  the  right  of  the  pulpit. 

The  first  name  on  the  list  was  that  of  the  Rev.  E.  Hib- 
bard,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church.  The  last  name  on  the 
list  was  that  of  Rev.  Lucius  H.  King,  D.  D.,  who  was  three 
times  pastor  of  this  church. 

The  last  Sunday  service  held  in  the  old  house  of  wor- 
ship of  the  First  Methodist  Church  was  on  Sunday,  June  6, 
1886.  Both  the  morning  and  evening  services  were  pecu- 
liarly interesting  and  were  largely  attended  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  and  others.  The  audience-room 
was  filled  from  pulpit  to  pew,  and  chairs  were  placed  in  the 
altar  and  aisles  to  accommodate  those  who  were  present  on 
this  oci  asion,  while  many  were  unable  to  obtain  entrance  to 
the  church.  The  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  Abraham  J. 
Palmer,  D.  D.,  conducted  the  exercises  in  the  evening. 
Rev.  C.  W.  Millard,  pastor  of  the  Central  Methodist 
Church,  read  the  opening  hymn.  Rev.  Dr.  Palmer  offered 
the  opening  prayer.  Rev.  William  Pickens,  by  request  of 
Rev.  Dr.  King,  read  the  following  hymn  : 


yS  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  My  gracious  Lord,  I  own  thy  right," 
which  the  congregation  heartily  united  in  singing. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  L.  H.  King-  preached  a  most  instructive 
and  eloquent  sermon  from  the  text  found  in  Rom.  14:7, 
"  For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to 
himself,"  closing  with  an  earnest  and  affectionate  appeal 
to  the  unconverted  to  become  reconciled  to  Christ.  He 
then  read  some  original  lines.  The  closing  stanza  reads 
thus: 

"  Farewell  to  the  church  where  we  have  worshipped  so  long, 
Made  sacred  by  prayer  and  hallowed  by  song  ; 
Farewell  to  the  walls,  altar,  pulpit,  and  pew. 
For  these  must  give  place  to  those  which  are  new; 
And  may  the  new  temple,  more  spacious  and  bright. 
Be  ever  found  battling  for  God  and  the  right. 
Until  thousands,  redeemed  from  sin  and  despair, 
Shall  raise  the  glad  shout,  We  all  were  born  there !" 

These  services  concluded  by  singing  the  well-known 
hymn,  "I  love  thy  kingdom.  Lord,"  and  the  benediction 
by  the  pastor. 

The  last  sermon  preached  in  the  old  church  building 
was  by  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham — the  occasion  being  that 
of  a  funeral — from  the  text,  "  The  Lord  shall  make  bright 
clouds."     Zech.  10:1. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge,  in  an  article  which 
appeared  in  the  "Christian  Advocate"  of  August  22,  1889, 
gives  an  account  of  the  early  effort  which  led  to  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  church  as  follows : 

"  This  church  is  the  third  in  turn  that  has  stood  on  the 

*  "Entered  into  the  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God,"  from 
his  home  in  New  York  city,  on  November  18,  1SS7,  Rev.  Lucius  H.  King, 
D.  D. 

Funeral  services  were  held  on  Tuesday,  November  22,  at  the  church 
of  which  he  was  the  pastor,  and  were  largely  attended  by  members  of  the 
New  York  Conference  and  others,  and  the  exercises  were  of  the  most  im- 
pressive character.  The  interment  was  at  St.  John's  Cemetery,  Yonkers, 
on  Wednesday  morning,  November  23.  Rev.  Dr.  Palmer,  Rev.  Dr.  Oak- 
ley, Revs.  C.  W.  Millard,  J.  W.  Ackerley,  and  Clark  Wright  took  part  in  the 
services  there. 

A  memorial  service  was  also  held  in  the  Central  Methodist  Church  of 
Yonkers,  of  which  he  was  formerly  pastor,  on  Sunday  evening,  November 
29,  1887.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Millard,  pastor  of  the  clmrch,  Rev.  William 
Pickens,  of  Yonkers,  Ruben  Barnes,  and  A.  T.  Serrell  took  part  therein. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  79 

same  site.  The  effort  which  culminated  in  its  erection 
was  begun  with  the  appointment  of  Rev.  Wm.  E.  Ketcham. 
The  story  of  his  indefatigable  labors  is  best  told  in  his  own 
words : 

"  '  As  I  entered  upon  my  work  in  the  spring  of  1883  I 
observed  that  it  was  highly  important,  for  the  future  growth 
of  our  beloved  Methodism,  to  secure  as  early  as  possible  the 
erection  of  a  new  church.  I  studiously  and  with  all  the 
tact  at  my  command  kept  the  consideration  of  this  out  of 
the  monthly  official  meetings  for  one  year.  The  project 
did  not,  however,  slumber  or  sleep  in  my  brain  or  on  my 
tongue.  Everywhere  I  talked,  prayed,  and  preached  new 
church  except  in  the  official  meeting. 

"  '  Thus  a  3'ear  passed,  a  year  of  seed-sowing.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  held  July  7,  1884,  a  be- 
ginning was  made  in  the  official  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  after  numerous  consultations,  vexatious  delays, 
changing  of  architects  and  plans,  at  length  the  committee 
having  the  matter  in  charge  consented  to  allow  the  circula- 
tion by  me  of  a  subscription  on  the  condition  that  I  should 
raise  $25,000. 

"  '  For  a  solid  year  after  I  pegged  away  night  and  day, 
in  heat  and  cold,  to  secure  the  end.  Many  persons  were 
called  upon,  some  from  five  to  fifteen  times,  before  a  final 
answer  was  given.  I  always  carried  a  memorandum  of 
names  with  amounts  assessed  to  cover  the  entire  sum  of 
$25,000.  This  I  constantly  changed  as  some  "  fell  out  "  and 
others  "fell  in."  I  often  studied  the  possible  loss  of  sev- 
eral thousand  dollars,  and  would  make  a  new  list,  supply- 
ing said  possible  loss  with  new  estimates,  always  bringing 
my  sum  out  at  $25,000. 

"  '  At  last,  March  28,  1886,  the  amount  of  $27,640  stood 
upon  my  subscription-book.  This  subscription,  with  the 
new  plans  substantially  as  they  are  to-day,  with  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  brethren  to  build  at  once,  was  passed  over  to 
Dr.  Palmer,  my  successor. 

"  '  I  cannot  tell  in  all  fulness  what  it  cost  of  work, 
prayer,  and  tears.  One  thing  I  am  well  assured  of,  that 
the  effort  was  determined.  Moreover,  this  also  I  know,  that 
no  self-glory  to  attain  was  mine.' 


80  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  Readers  of  this  modest  sketch  cannot  form  any  prop- 
er estimate  of  the  difficulties  and  discouragements  through 
which  this  dear  brother  struggled,  consuming  the  whole  of 
his  pastoral  term  and  committing  to  his  successor  the  im- 
portant but  as  yet  hidden  results  of  his  work.  His  phe- 
nomenal enthusiasm,  his  patience  and  persistence,  his  faith 
and  energy,  will  ever  be  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  this 
appreciative  people.  He  has  the  right  of  way  unchallenged 
to  their  hearts.  None  is  more  deserving  than  he,  and  none 
could  be  better  beloved." 

Another  clergyman  of  the  New  York  Conference 
writes  concerning  Rev.  Mr.  Ketcham's  efforts  in  connec- 
tion with  the  new  church :  "  Only  they  who  know  how 
grandly  he  surmounted  obstacles  which  seemed  insur- 
mountable, and  not  only  made  possible,  but  compelled  the 
erection  of  a  new  sanctuary,  can  recognize  the  lasting 
claims  he  has  on  the  Methodism  and  Christianity  of  Yon- 
kers.  Where  others  flashed  he  shone  ;  where  others  talked 
he  toiled." 

The  services  of  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the 
new  church  were  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on 
Tuesday  evening,  October  19,  1886.  Rev.  G.  H.  Gregory, 
D.  D.,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district,  conducted  the  servi- 
ces, assisted  by  Rev.  W.  E.  Ketcham,  Rev.  C.  W.  Millard, 
Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  Rev.  John  Reid,  Rev.  Merritt  Hul- 
burd.  Bishop  John  F.  Hurst. 

Rev.  Dr.  Gregory  stated  that  the  anticipated  cost  of 
the  church  building  was  between  $50,000  and  $60,000,  and 
that  there  was  yet  lacking  nearly  $23,000.  This  amount 
was  somewhat  reduced  by  the  collection  taken  up  that 
evening. 

The  copper  box  which  was  to  be  placed  in  the  corner- 
stone was  exhibited,  and  by  request  Merritt  H.  Smith, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  read  the  following  list 
of  articles  which  it  contained  :  "  Origin  and  history  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Yonkers ;  a  list  of  its 
pastors ;  names  of  the  present  pastor,  board  of  trustees, 
stewards,  and  leaders  ;  names  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  names  of  all  subscribers  and  con- 
tributors to  the  fund  for  the  new  church  up  to  date  ;  Disci- 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  8 1 

pline,  Bible,  and  hymn-book  ;  Conference  sermon  by  Bishop 
Hurst ;  minutes  of  the  Conference  :  copies  of  the  '  Christian 
Advocate,'  '  The  Yonkers  Gazette,'  and  '  The  Yonkers 
Statesman ;'  New  York  papers ;  report  of  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Yonkers ;  copy  of  the  ser- 
vices of  laying  the  corner-stone ;  names  of  the  building 
committee,  architect,  masons,  and  carpenter  of  the  new 
church  ;  names  of  the  pastors  of  all  the  churches  of  Yon- 
kers, President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States, 
Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  Yonkers ;  a  piece  of 
the  old  John  Street  Church,  the  first  Methodist  church 
built  in  America ;  apex  of  the  spire  of  the  First  Methodist 
Church  in  Yonkers ;  copy  of  '  The  Statesman  '  of  June  4, 
with  an  account  of  the  last  sociable  held  in  the  old  church  ; 
*  The  Statesman '  of  June  7,  with  report  of  the  last  Sun- 
day's sermon  in  the  old  church,  by  Rev.  Dr.  King ;  and  the 
names  of  the  officers,  teachers,  and  scholars  of  the  Sunday- 
school." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  the  clergymen  and 
congregation  went  to  the  site  of  the  new  church  edifice,  on 
that  of  the  old  one  (on  the  southeast  corner  of  North  Broad- 
way and  Ashburton  Avenue),  where  under  the  brilliant 
calcium  light  the  scene  presented  was  most  impressive. 

Bishop  Hurst  offered  a  prayer  and  a  few  preliminary 
remarks,  after  which  Rev.  Wm.  E.  Ketcham  read  a  portion 
of  Scripture,  struck  the  stone  with  a  hammer,  and  said,  "  In 
the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  we  lay  this  corner-stone  for  the  foundation  of  a 
house  to  be  builded  and  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
Almighty  God,  according  to  the  order  and  usages  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 

The  doxology  was  then  sung,  when  Rev.  Dr.  Gregory 
pronounced  the  benediction. 

On  the  corner-stone  is  cut  this  inscription:  "First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     1828- 1886." 

The  style  of  architecture  of  this  church  is  modernized 
Romanesque.  It  is  of  rock  face  light  Belleville  stone,  with 
dark  brown  stone  trimmings.  There  is  a  tower  on  the 
southeast   corner   of    Broadway    and    Ashburton    Avenue 

Chiuch  and  Sunday-aclioul  Work.  (y 


82  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

entirely  of  stone,  one  hundred  feet  from  the  sidewalk.  It 
runs  square  about  sixty  feet  and  terminates  with  a  forty- 
foot  spire.  There  is  also  a  smaller  low  staircase  tower  on 
the  southwest  corner,  octagonal  in  shape. 


1^ 

IT!?-    i'' 


^/^OTD  iteCTfJory-f 


FIRST    MKTHODIST    CHURCH. 


On  the  Broadway  front  is  a  porch  with  double  stair- 
ways, twenty  feet  wide,  to  the  main  entrance  of  the  church. 
This  porch  is  ornamented  w^ith  wrought  iron-work  roof. 
There  is  also  an  entrance  to  the  church  proper  on  the 
Ashburton  Avenue  side  and  to  the  Sunday-school  rooms, 
and  one  on  the  Broadway  side  to  the  social  room,  60  by  35. 
Under  the  Sunday-school  room  is  a  kitchen  and  toilet-room 
for  both  the  social  and  Sunday-school  rooms.  The  base- 
ments are  lighted  by  large  windows  glazed  with  colored 
glass. 

Through  the  main  auditorium  there  are  two  lines  of 
columns  which  help  to  support  the  open  -  timbered  roof. 
The  interior  columns  are  connected  longitudinally  with 
ornamented  arcade  arches,  with   ornamental    sawed  work 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  83 

above.  The  caps  of  the  columns  are  moulded  and  carved. 
The  Sunday-school  room  in  the  rear  has  an  open-timbered 
roof,  made  to  correspond  with  the  main  roof.  The  con- 
struction of  the  roof  and  of  all  the  interior  trimmings  is  of 
yellow  pine,  stained  and  varnished. 

The  chancel  arch  is  supported  by  two  large  round 
columns  with  ornamental  caps  and  bases,  and  enriched 
with  ornamental  plaster-work.  The  main  auditorium  is 
lighted  by  double  mullioned  and  transomed  windows  filled 
with  opalescent  glass.  The  pews  and  pulpit  furniture  are 
of  ash,  stained  and  varnished  to  correspond  with  the  other 
woodwork.     There  are  four  aisles. 

The  church  has  a  frontage  of  seventy-five  on  North 
Broadway  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  on  Ashbur- 
ton  Avenue.  The  main  auditorium  of  the  building  is  sixty- 
three  feet  wide  and  seventy-six  feet  deep.  The  pulpit  is 
located  at  the  east  end,  with  organ-loft  and  choir  behind. 

On  the  west  end  is  a  gallery  capable  of  seating  one 
hundred  people.  The  seating  capacity  of  the  main  audi- 
torium is  seven  hundred.  The  main  Sunday-school  room, 
class,  society,  and  infant-class  rooms,  and  the  pastor's  study 
and  library  occupy  the  easterly  end  of  the  church,  all  spa- 
cious in  size,  well  lighted  and  well  ventilated. 

The  original  plan,  as  stated  by  the  architect  of  the 
church,  has  been  carried  out  with  a  few  alterations.  Rob- 
ert H.  Robertson,  of  New  York,  was  the  architect.  The 
Building  Committee  were  J.  E.  Andrus,  J.  C.  Havemeyer, 
S.  F.  Quick,  C.  R.  Leffingwell,  and  John  Sherwood.  Never 
was  an  important  enterprise  in  safer  charge.  With  a 
patience  and  watchful  care  unsurpassed  they  kept  their 
eye  and  hand  upon  the  work  until  it  was  brought  to  a  suc- 
cessful end. 

While  awaiting  the  completion  of  the  chapel  of  the 
new  church,  the  congregation,  by  invitation  of  the  trustees 
and  members  of  the  Central  Methodist  Church,  held  their 
Sunday  services  with  their  congregation. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  October,  1887,  the  con- 
gregation assembled  for  the  first  time  in  the  chapel  of  their 
new  church  building.  The  services  began  by  the  singing 
of  the  770th  hymn,  "  I  love  thy  kingdom.  Lord."     Rev.  Dr. 


84  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Palmer,  Presiding  Elder,  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer,  at 
the  close  of  which  the  congregation  joined  him  in  the 
Lord's  Prayer.  Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge,  pastor  of 
the  church,  then  read  the  84th  Psalm. 

After  a  few  words  of  welcome  to  their  new  church 
home,  addressed  to  the  congregation  by  the  pastor,  Charles 
R.  Leffingwell  read  a  number  of  resolutions  embodying 
their  thanks  to  the  trustees,  members,  and  pastor  of  the 
Central  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  they  had 
the  privilege  of  worshipping  for  more  than  fifteen  months. 
These  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  a  certi- 
fied copy  directed  to  be  sent  to  the  Central  Church. 

Dr.  Strobridge  preached  an  able  and  eloquent  discourse 
from  these  words :  "  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me, 
Let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,"  Psa.  122:  i,  at  the 
close  of  which  $1,050  was  contributed  for  the  chapel. 

In  the  evening  Dr.  Strobridge  preached  to  a  large  con- 
gregation, from  Mark  1:37:  "  All  men  seek  for  Thee." 

While  awaiting  the  completion  of  the  main  audience- 
room  of  this  church  the  regular  services  were  held  in  the 
chapel. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  Sunday,  September  9, 
1888.  Rev.  John  Miley,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  Palmer,  and 
Bishop  R.  S.  Foster  took  part  in  the  morning  service,  the 
latter  preaching  the  sermon  from  i  Tim.  5:8:  "  But  if  any 
provide  not  for  his  own,  and  specially  for  those  of  his  own 
house,  he  hath  denied  the  faith  and  is  worse  than  an  in- 
fidel," at  the  close  of  which  subscriptions  were  taken  up 
amounting  to  more  than  $20,000,  after  which  the  doxology 
was  sung,  and  Bishop  Fitzgerald  pronounced  the  benedic- 
tion. 

At  the  afternoon  service  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham 
presided,  and  short  addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  Dr. 
O.  H.  Tiffany,  Rev.  Dr.  Palmer,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  M.  Stratton, 
Rev.  F.  Hamlin,  and  Rev.  Delos  Lull. 

The  references  of  former  'pastors  to  preachers  and 
members  who  have  passed  to  the  better  land  were  exceed- 
ingly interesting  and  touching. 

Bishop  Fitzgerald  preached  the  evening  sermon  from 
the  text  in  Heb.  3:3:  "  For  this  man  was  counted  worthy 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH,  85 

of  more  glory  than  Moses."  In  the  evening  the  church 
was  crowded  to  overflowing.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  M.  Baird  offered 
prayer.     Rev.  Dr.  Palmer  read  the  Scriptures. 

An  address  was  delivered  by  John  E.  Andrus,  the 
chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  which  fairly  electri- 
fied the  large  audience.     He  spoke  in  part  as  follows : 

"This  church  was  not  completed  as  a  poor  man's 
church,  neither  was  it  completed  as  a  rich  man's  church, 
but  it  was  completed  as  the  church  of  the  people,  erected 
in  honor  of  the  ever-living  God.  I  would  speak  of  the 
effort  which  has  made  this  day's  happiness  possible,  an 
effort  put  forth  when  darkness  surrounded,  and  no  ray  of 
light  was  seen  nor  any  word  of  cheer  was  heard  to  gladden 
and  encourage.  Then  a  man  came,  a  man  with  no  muscle 
to  grow  weary,  no  nerve  to  relax,  and  a  heart  that  never 
felt  faint  in  this  noble  work.  When  you  and  I  were  care- 
less and  indifferent  this  man  with  hand  and  foot  and  brain 
kept  toiling  on,  knowing  full  well  that  a  church  would 
come.  We,  and  people  yet  to  come,  would  be  ungrateful 
were  we  not  to  remember  with  lasting  thankfulness  the 
man  who  has  done  so  much  for  us,  so  much  for  this  church. 
Need  I  mention  his  name?  You  know  it  well,  the  Rev. 
Wm.  E.  Ketcham. 

^  -s  ~  *  -x-  -x- 

"  With  those,  and  all  others  interested  in  the  building 
of  this  church,  I  say,  glad  I  am  that  we  are  at  last  assem- 
bled within  its  walls,  glad  that  the  voices  of  the  workmen, 
the  sound  of  the  hammer,  the  trowel,  and  the  saw,  have 
died  away  in  the  stillness  of  the  past.  And  in  their  stead 
we  have  already  heard  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise,  the 
sound  of  the  gospel,  and  sweet  music  falling  pleasantly 
upon  our  ears.  May  I  cherish  the  hope  that  they  will  con- 
tinue to  fall  on  willing  ears  of  a  happy,  contented,  and 
united  people  occupying  these  pews  on  and  on  through 
many  a  far,  far  distant  Sabbath  day  that  you  and  I  shall 
not  live  to  see  !" 

After  which  the  dedicatory  service  took  place,  con- 
ducted by  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster,  D,  D.,  LL.  D.  The  services 
were  closed  by  the  singing  of  a  hymn  and  benediction. 

It  will  not  be  invidious  to  others  who  did  what  they 


86  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

could,  and  did  a  great  deal,  to  say  that  the  church  was 
largely  the  gift  of  two  laymen,  Mr.  John  E.  Andrus  and 
Mr.  John  C.  Havemeyer,  the  former  giving  one-third  of 
the  entire  cost  of  the  buildings.  The  gifts  of  the  people 
on  the  day  of  dedication  were  $28,000,  entirely  freeing  the 
property  from  debt. 

The  new  church  cost  (exclusive  of  the  ground)  $60,000. 
A  large  and  handsome  crayon  portrait  of  Rev.  William  E. 
Ketcham,  the  gift  of  the  congregation,  was  placed  in  the 
vestibule  of  the  church  on  the  day  of  the  dedication. 

The  financial  statement  of  Charles  R.  Leffingwell, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  for  the  first  year  in  the  new 
church  was  as  follows:  Payments,  $5,284  81;  receipts, 
$5,284  81.  The  church  raised  also  eleven  hundred  dollars 
for  benevolent  purposes. 

The  pastors  of  the  First  Methodist  Church  of  Yonkers 
and  their  terms  of  service  have  been  ;  1828,  Rev.  E.  Hib- 
bard ;  1829-30,  Rev.  R.  Seaman  ;  1831-32,  Rev.  E.  Hibbard; 
1833-34,  Rev.  E.  Smith;  1835,  Rev.  T.  Evans;  1836-37, 
Revs.  E.  Oldron  and  J.  D.  Bangs;  1838,  Rev.  J.  Davies  ; 
1839,  Rev.  H.  Hatfield;  1840,  Rev.  Thomas  Burch ;  1841, 
Rev.  D.  I.  Wright;  1842-43,  Rev.  John  A.  Selleck ;  1844- 
45,  Rev.  J.  C.  Green;  1846-47,  Rev.  C.  C.  Keys;  1848-49, 
Rev.  Salmon  C.  Perry;  1850-51,  Rev.  Paul  R.  Brown;  1852, 
Rev.  P.  L.  Hoyt;  1853,  Rev.  P.  L.  Sanford ;  1854,  Rev. 
George  Brown;  1855-56,  Rev.  J.  B.  Hagany ;  1857-58,  Rev. 
P.  Ward;  1859-60,  Rev.  L.  H.  King,  D.  D. ;  1861-62,  Rev. 
Edwin  R.  Keyes;  1863-65,  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Wakeley ;  1866, 
Rev.  Lucius  H.  King,  D.  D. ;  1867-69,  Rev.  Morris  D.  C. 
Crawford,  D.  D. ;  1870-71,  Rev.  Francis  Bottome,  D.  D. ; 
1872-74,  Rev.  R.  M.  Stratton,  D.  D. ;  1875-77,  Rev.  Fletcher 
Hamlin;  1878-79,  Rev.  Lucius  H.  King,  D.  D. ;  1880-82, 
Rev.  De  Los  Lull;  1883-86,  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham; 
1886,  Rev.  Abraham  J.  Palmer,  D.  D. ;  1887  to  April,  1890, 
Rev.  George  E.  Strobridge,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Dr.  Strobridge's  pastorate  of  the  church  was 
marked  with  success.  He  did  much  to  build  up  the  spir- 
itual and  material  interests  of  the  church.  He  preached 
constantly  the  great  doctrines  and  awakening  truths  of  the 
Bible  with  earnestness  and  effectiveness. 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  8/ 

The  number  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church 
during  his  pastorate  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham,  April, 
1 890,  who  attended  to  the  pastoral  work  of  the  charge  until 
the  coming  of  the  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Schell,  October  19,  1890. 
The  pulpit  was  supplied  meanwhile  by  several  eminent 
preachers  of  the  denomination,  among  them  Bishop  An- 
drews and  Dr.  Upham. 

Rev.  Edwin  A.  Schell  was  born  at  Logansport,  Ind. 
Early  in  his  boyhood  his  parents  moved  to  Chicago.  He  is 
now  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age.  He  graduated  at  the 
Northwestern  University,  and  also  at  Garrett  Biblical  Insti- 
tute. During  his  attendance  at  school  he  organized  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Hammond.  A  church  was 
erected,  and  became  a  strong  charge.  At  the  time  of  his 
admission  to  the  Northwest  Indiana  Conference  he  was 
sent  to  South  Bend,  and  with  that  charge  he  was  connected 
for  over  four  years.  During  that  time  he  carried  on  and 
completed  a  post-graduate  course  of  study  in  De  Pauw  Uni- 
versity, receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy 
(Ph.  D.)  He  took  the  Kirk  prize  of  $100  in  oratory  while 
in  college.  An  oration  of  his,  on  "  The  Victorian  Age," 
was  printed  in  the  volume  entitled  "A  Decade  of  Oratory," 
issued  by  the  University  Press  Company,  Evanston,  111. 
He  declined  the  presidency  of  a  Western  college  last  year. 
Rev.  Dr.  Schell  preached  his  first  sermon  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Methodist  Church  on  Sunday,  October  19,  1890. 

Regarding  Rev.  Dr.  Schell,  the  "South  Bend  (Ind.) 
Daily  Tribune  "  says :  "  No  minister  ever  came  to  South 
Bend  so  perfect  a  stranger  and  made  so  many  friends  as 
Mr.  Schell.  His  personality  has  made  him  very  popular  as 
a  man  and  citizen,  while  his  popularity  in  the  pulpit  comes 
from  his  originality  in  the  presentation  of  religious  matters, 
his  address,  and  his  eloquence.  Indiana  has  few  pulpit 
orators  that  can  equal  Mr.  Schell.  As  a  preacher  to  chil- 
dren his  '  little  sermons '  to  them  as  a  prelude  to  the  reg- 
ular church  service  will  be  greatly  missed." 

Up  to  this  writing  (June  i,  1891)  fifty-eight  have  been 
received  into  the  church  during  his  pastorate. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are : 


88  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  Abraham  J.  Palmer,  D.  D. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Schell,  Ph.  D. 

Local  Elder,  Rev.  D.  T.  Macfarlan. 

Trustees,  J.  C.  Havemeyer,  J.  E.  Andrus,  S.  F.  Quick, 
C.  R.  Leffingwell,  J.  B.  Odell,  John  W.  Oliver,  B.  S.  Wash- 
burn, Wm.  M.  Williams,  S.  T.  Bell. 

Stewards,  John  Embree,  A.  Austin,  Frank  Connelly, 
C.  R.  Leffingwell,  J.  F.  Vincent,  Frank  Wheeler,  J.  W.  Oli- 
ver, W.  F.  Washburn,  Franklin  Ames,  E.  M.  Yerks,  Jr.,  J. 
A.  M'Lachlin,  Seymour  Van  Voorst. 

Sunday-school  Superintendent,  E.  M.  Yerks,  Jr. 

Class  Leaders,  A.  Austin,  Th.  Billings,  H.  N.  Palma- 
tier,  Theo.  Terrell. 

The  present  membership — May,  1891 — of  the  church  is 
380.     Full  members  360,  probationers  20. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  the  church  was  organized 
in  January,  1884.  Officers,  1890,  Mrs.  John  W.  Oliver, 
President ;  Miss  Marguerite  Fones,  Secretary ;  and  Mrs. 
Frank  E.  Wheeler,  Treasurer. 

The  Woman's  Foreign  and  Woman's  Home  Missionary 
Societies  were  organized  November,  1888. 

Officers  of  the  Foreign  Society,  1891  :  Miss  Helen  S. 
Macfarlan,  President ;  Mrs.  E.  C.  Paton,  Secretary ;  Miss 
Bertha  Steele,  Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  D.  T.  Macfar- 
lan, Treasurer. 

Officers  of  Home  Society,  1891  :  Mrs.  E.  A.  Schell, 
President ;  Mrs.  J.  W.  Goodale,  Secretary ;  Mrs.  F.  Keppel, 
Treasurer. 

The  present  organist  and  director  of  the  quartette 
choir  is  William  H.  Hoppock  ;  Mrs.  Charles  D.  Wyman, 
soprano ;  Miss  Clara  Lee  Mott,  alto ;  F.  E.  Hubbel,  tenor ; 
John  K.  Myers,  bass. 

The  present  organ  was  presented  to  the  church  in 
September,  1888,  by  Mrs.  William  F.  Cochran. 

The  present  pulpit  Bible  and  hymn-book  were  pre- 
sented by  Mrs.  S.  F.  Quick,  July,  1888. 

The  old  church  clock  is  placed  in  the  chapel.  George 
Senior  has  been  sexton  of  the  First  Methodist  Church 
for  over  twenty  years.  The  ushers  are  Frank  E.  Wheeler, 
S.  T.  Bell,  Edwin  A.  Oliver,  and  A.  Austin. 


THE    FIRST    METHOPIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  89 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  celebrated  in 
this  church  the  first  Sunday  morning  in  each  alternate 
month. 

The  92d  annual  session  of  the  New  York  Conference 
was  held  in  this  church,  April  i-8,  1891.  Bishop  Fitzgerald 
presided.  The  Conference  was  hospitably  entertained  by 
the  citizens  of  the  community  irrespective  of  denomination, 
and  on  the  adjournment  of  the  session,  resolutions  of  the 
most  complimentary  character  to  the  church  and  community 
were  adopted. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In  the  old  country  schoolhouse  where  the  first  services 
of  the  church  were  held,  the  first  Methodist  Sunday-school 
of  Yonkers  was  founded  in  the  year  1826. 

The  late  Searing  Howell,  of  Yonkers,  was  one  of  the 
pupils  who  attended  this  Sunday-school  when  it  was  held  in 
the  little  schoolhouse,  and  his  family  relate  the  incident 
that  when  a  very  little  fellow  he  fell  asleep  during  meeting- 
time,  and  of  his  being  aroused  by  the  sonorous  tones  of  the 
Methodist  preacher,  very  much  scared  as  he  fell  from  the 
high  wooden  bench  to  the  floor,  which  youthful  episode 
was  never  effaced  from  his  memory.  This  incident,  so  well 
remembered,  fixes  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  school 
as  above  stated. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1828.  Into  this 
building  the  Sunday-school  entered  in  the  autumn  of  1828. 

The  next  date  in  the  early  history  of  this  Sunday- 
school  was  in  the  year  1831.  At  that  time  Abby  J.  Odell 
(now  the  widow  of  the  late  Charles  Belknap)  and  her  sister, 
Sarah  Odell  (now  the  widow  of  Searing  Howell),  were 
pupils  in  the  Sunday-school  held  in  the  old  white  meeting- 
house at  half-past  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Subse- 
quently they,  with  their  sister,  became  teachers  in  the 
school. 

The  superintendent  at  that  time  was  Frederic  Shon- 
nard.  The  teachers,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  were  Miss 
Alice  S.  Brown,  Miss  Charity  Brown,  Miss  Rockwell,  Miss 
Harriet  Rockwell,  Mrs.  Pemberton,  James  D.  Brown,  Fred- 
erick Brown,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederic  Shonnard. 


go  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  school  then  numbered  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty-five  children.  The  infant  class  of  five  was  taught  by 
Miss  Abby  J.  Odell.  She  taught  them  their  A,  B,  C's  from 
the  Bible,  and  they  recited  their  Bible  verses  which  they  had 
committed  to  memory  and  which  had  been  taught  to  them 
by  their  parents  at  home,  and  a  question  from  the  Church 
Catechism.  A  hymn  or  two  was  sung  from  the  church 
hymn-book  and  the  little  class  was  dismissed  to  attend  the 
afternoon  church  service,  which  was  held  after  the  dismis- 
sion of  the  school,  at  three  o'clock.  Such  were  the  exercises 
and  methods  of  teaching  the  little  primitive  infant  class. 
There  were  no  illustrated  lesson  charts,  no  attractive  picture 
papers,  no  reward  cards  for  punctual  attendance,  perfect 
lessons,  and  good  deportment ;  but  with  the  well-earned 
commendation  and  parting  words  from  their  young  teacher 
"  that  they  had  been  good  children  and  said  their  Bible 
verses  and  Catechism  nicely,"  they  bade  her  good-by  until 
next  Sunday. 

As  the  early  records  of  this  church  and  Sunday-school 
have  been  unfortunately  lost,  the  later  and  following  history 
of  the  school  is  obtained  from  the  quarterly  reports  of  the 
Sunday-school  presented  by  the  pastors  of  the  church  to  the 
Methodist  Conference. 

In  the  reports  required  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  relative  to  the  condition  of  their  churches  and  Sun- 
day-schools occurs  the  following  question  : 

"  Is  there  a  written  report  from  the  pastor  of  the  num- 
ber, state,  and  average  attendance  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  Bible  classes,  and  the  extent  to  which  he  has  preached 
to  the  children  and  catechised  them?" 

In  many  of  the  reports  presented  by  the  former  pas- 
tors of  this  church  to  the  Quarterly  Conference  we  find  that 
this  question  is  answered  briefly  thus :  "  In  part,"  or  sim- 
ply in  the  affirmative. 

The  following  extracts,  taken  by  permission  from  the 
Quarterly  Record  Book  of  this  church,  show  the  condition 
and  growth  of  the  church  at  different  periods  and  under 
different  pastors  of  the  church. 

The  first  record  of  the  Sunday-school  contained  in  the 
"  Quarterly  Conference  Record  Book  of  the  First  Methodist 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  91 

Church  of  Yonkers  to  the  New  York  Conference"  is  the 
following : 

From  the  first  Conference  report  presented  by  the  pas- 
tor in  charge,  Rev.  M.  D,  C.  Crawford,  D.  D.,  is  the  follow- 
ing, August  1 7,  1 867 :  The  Sabbath-school  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition.  The  school  is  organized  into  a  Missionary 
Society  auxiliary  to  the  General  Missionary  Society  of  our 
church.     Average  attendance  of  scholars,  177. 

Third  quarterly  report,  November  16,  1867. — Average 
attendance,  1 70  ;  officers  and  teachers,  36. 

February  29,  1868,  the  pastor  reports  to  the  Quarterly 
Conference  :  We  have  been  and  are  hoping  and  praying  for 
the  conversion  of  the  children,  though  as  yet  there  are  no 
clear  indications  of  this  great  mercy.  The  school  numbers 
children  on  record,  264;  average  attendance,  168;  officers 
and  teachers,  33  ;  contributions  to  Sunday-school  Union, 
$75  ;  to  Tract  Society,  $25  ;  to  Bible  Society,  $25. 

October  3,  1868. — Pastor  reports  to  Conference:  Aver- 
age attendance  of  scholars,  126;  of  teachers,  20.  During 
the  summer  and  until  now  the  attendance  has  been  smaller 
than  formerly  and  the  school  has  suffered  for  lack  of  faith- 
ful teachers.  The  Church  Catechism  has  just  been  intro- ' 
duced  into  the  school. 

The  Sunday-school  continued  to  increase  in  numbers 
so  that  the  basement  of  the  church  was  not  large  enough  to 
accommodate  the  scholars,  and  it  was  removed  to  the  audi- 
ence-room of  the  church  in  the  autumn  of  1868,  which,with 
the  gallery, it  continued  to  occupy  till  June  6,  1886. 

March  27,  1869. — The  Sabbath-school  is  prosperous  and 
well  conducted.  Within  a  few  weeks  three  of  the  interest- 
ing children  of  our  infant  class — Wilbur  F.  Lawrence, 
Fanny  Quick,  and  Herbert  Strickland — have  been  removed 
from  the  care  of  their  loving  parents  to  the  fold  of  the 
Good  Shepherd.  The  general  condition  of  the  school  is 
encouraging.  It  has  pleased  God  to  refresh  our  church 
and  Sunday-school,"  and  some  have  been  added  to  the 
church  from  the  Sunday-school  who  give  promise  of  great 
usefulness. 

In  the  year  1869  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  was  John  W.  Oliver,  now  editor  of  "  The  Yonkers 


92  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Statesman,"  who  was  formerly  the  superintendent  for  a 
number  of  years  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Trinity  Meth- 
odist Church  in  New  York  city.  Mr.  Oliver  gave  his  time 
and  means  freely  to  advance  its  interest.  The  pastor's 
family — his  daughter  and  three  sons — were  among  the 
officers  and  teachers  of  the  school,  and  not  a  little  of  the 
prosperity  of  the  school  was  due  to  their  energy  and  faith- 
fulness. The  social  condition  of  the  school  at  that  time 
was  very  pleasant. 

At  their  anniversary,  which  was  held  at  Radford  Hall, 
Getty  Square,  on  Friday  evening,  December  17,  1869,  an 
admission  fee  was  charged. 

The  exercises  began  by  singing  "  Life's  Rosy  Morn  " 
by  the  school,  and  the  opening  prayer  was  offered  by  the 
pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Crawford.  Recitations,  dialogues,  solos, 
and  duets  by  members  of  the  school  followed. 

An  address  was  delivered  by  Master  Frank  Simpson, 
entitled  "Our  Sunday-school  Family,"  which  was  written 
by  one  of  the  officers  of  the  school.  In  this  address  a 
rhyming  description  of  the  teachers  was  given. 

One  of  the  recitations,  entitled  "  Every  Drop  Helps," 
by  Marian  C.  Burgess,  was  very  pleasing.  Another,  "  Peo- 
ple will  Talk,"  by  Hattie  G.  Post,  was  encored.  A  duet, 
"Angel  Voices,"  was  sweetly  sung  by  Jules  Coffin  and 
Emma  L.  Oliver,  daughter  of  the  superintendent. 

The  recitation,  "  One  Thing  at  a  Time,"  by  Kitty  Law- 
rence, and  the  dialogue,  "  I  Want  to  Know  the  Reason,"  by 
Lucy  Quick  and  Mary  A.  Smith,  were  well  recited. 

The  hymn  "  We  are  Coming  "  was  beautifully  sung  by 
the  school,  after  which  a  dialogue,  "  That  Reminds  Me  of  a 
Little  Story,"  was  given  by  James  Paul,  Ethelbert  Embree, 
Matthew  M.  Johnston,  Rufus  P.  Livermore,  Thomas  C. 
Oakley,  and  Edwin  A.  Oliver. 

The  closing  hymn  was  "  The  Friend  Near  and  Dear." 
The  exercises  throughout  were,  interesting  and  entertain- 
ing. 

The  children  were  led  in  singing  on  this  occasion  by 
the  Rev.  Daniel  T.  Macfarlan,  who  for  a  number  of  years 
had  charge  of  the  singing  of  this  school  and  always  took  a 
special  delight  and  pains  in  training  the  children.      He 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  93 

will  always  be  remembered  as  the  sweet  singer  of  the 
school. 

There  are  only  two  persons  connected  with  the  school 
at  this  time  who  were  then  in  it — Mrs.  John  Stelwagon 
(now  Mrs.  George  Burgess),  who  was  the  female  superin- 
tendent of  the  school  then,  and  James  B.  Odell,  who  was  its 
treasurer. 

Mrs.  George  Burgess  has  been  connected  with  the 
school  since  the  year  1854,  and  has  been  actively  engaged 
in  it,  either  as  a  teacher  or  officially,  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  years  intervening  between  the  date  of  her  entrance 
to  the  present  date,  1888.  She  is  now  assistant  libra- 
rian, and  as  a  Sunday-school  worker  is  second  on  the 
"  Roll  of  Honor "  among  the  Sunday-school  workers  of 
Yonkers. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1869  is  recalled  as  being  an 
especially  delightful  occasion.  In  arranging  for  the  festi- 
val, the  officers  and  teachers  of  the  school  desired  to  pre- 
sent their  honored  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  M.  D,  C.  Crawford,  with 
some  kindly  token  of  recognition.  After  discussion  it  was 
concluded  that  the  present  should  be  $100  in  greenbacks. 
Supervisor  Jacob  Read,  in  behalf  of  the  members  of  the 
church,  presented  the  gift,  and  the  novel  way  in  which  the 
presentation  was  made  will  always  be  remembered  by  those 
who  witnessed  it. 

The  report  of  the  school  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Frank  Bottome,  D.  D.,  presented  to  Conference  June  18, 
1870,  is  as  follows  : 

On  entering  my  new  charge  I  found  a  very  carefully 
revised  Church  Register,  which  my  excellent  predecessor 
prepared  with  great  circumspection  and  neatness.  The 
Sabbath-school  continues  to  prosper  and  remains  much  as 
per  last  report  of  my  predecessor,  but  the  basement  of  the 
church  is  deemed  utterly  unfit  for  the  infant  class. 

November  26,  1870. — The  Church  Improvement  Soci- 
ety, which  was  started  a  few  months  ago,  has  been  a  deci- 
ded success.  Our  lack  is  most  of  all  proper  church  and 
Sunday-school  accommodations.  We  have  not  a  single 
class-room,  and  our  basement  is  the  constant  complaint  of 
many,  who  declare  that  they  cannot  worship  in  it  without 


94  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

detriment  to  their  health.  Yet  this  is  the  room  in  which 
the  infant  class  meets  on  the  Sabbath. 

A  large  and  interesting  young  people's  Bible-class  is 
tinder  the  necessity  of  meeting  in  the  choir  gallery  of  the 
church  and  complains  of  the  constant  interruptions  by  the 
school  in  the  open  room  below,  while  the  exercises  of  the 
body  of  the  school  have  frequently  to  be  modified  to  accom- 
modate the  Bible-class. 

June  21,  1873. — -Dr.  A.  W.  Lozier  was  appointed  super- 
intendent by  the  pastor. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  printed  report  of  the 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  April  i,  1876: 

"  This  school  is  at  present  in  a  very  flourishing  condi- 
tion and  has  during  the  past  year  made  many  additions  to 
its  ranks.  Mr.  S.  C.  Lusk,  the  superintendent,  is  an  inde- 
fatigable worker  and  has  the  school  in  fine  running  order. 
Religious  interest  is  manifested  throughout  the  school  and 
the  best  of  order  is  maintained  during  the  entire  session. 
From  among  the  smaller  children  there  has  been  formed  a 
band  for  religious  exercises  called  '  The  Dew-Drops.'  This 
is  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Chauncey  Shaffer  and  Miss  Harriet 
Seymour,  and  their  meetings  are  held  after  the  usual  ses- 
sion of  the  school.  On  the  third  Sunday  of  each  month  are 
held  mission  exercises  under  the  conductorship  of  Chaun- 
cey Shaffer,  Esq.  This  school  has  four  Bible-classes,  the 
members  of  which  take  great  interest  in  '  searching  the 
Scriptures.'  Following  is  the  statistical  exhibit  of  the 
school  for  the  past  year : 

"•Officers,  9;  teachers,  26;  scholars  on  register,  237; 
average  attendance,  190;  largest  attendance,  250  ;  number  in 
infant  class,  30 ;  conversions,  27  ;  volumes  in  library,  450 ; 
receipts  from  all  sources,  $420  68  ;  expenditures,  $409  33 ; 
donated  to  missionary  cause,  $150;  donated  to  church  debt, 
$100. 

"  The  officers  of  this  school  are :  S.  C.  Lusk,  Superin- 
tendent ;  Van  Buren  Clark,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  J. 
Frank  Hull,  Treasurer ;  Charles  W.  Wheeler  and  J.  Henry 
Townsend,  Librarians ;  Mrs.  M.  Haviland  Smith,  Lady  Su- 
perintendent ;  Miss  Amanda  P.  Carr,  Secretary.  The 
teachers  are :   Mrs.  Chauncey  vShaffer,  Mrs.  Anna  Burgess, 


THE    FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  95 

Mrs.  James  Waterloo,  Mrs.  George  Thomas,  Mrs.  Seymour 
Van  Vorst,  Mrs.  Tillie  Smith,  Miss  Harriet  Seymour,  Miss 
Helen  R.  S.  Macfarlan,  Miss  Ella  McCord,  Miss  Mary 
Hughes,  Miss  Cora  Mackrell,  Miss  Zelia  Anderson,  Miss 
Mary  Dates,  Miss  Lizzie  Walsh,  Miss  Christine  Lewis,  Miss 
Mary  J.  Haines,  Miss  Hattie  Bennett,  Miss  Wordetia  Light, 
Messrs.  G.  Herbert  McCord,  Alfred  T.  Serrell,  Henry  Ben- 
nett, Chauncey  Shaffer,  Hamlin  and  Van  Buren  Clark." 

Report  of  pastor  in  charge.  Rev.  Dr.  L.  H.  King,  July 
28,  1878:  In  the  former  report  from  Sabbath-school  there 
were  197 ;  now  221,  showing  an  increase  of  24. 

July  19,  1879.— Have  ^^^  rules  respecting  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  children  been  observed  ?  Answer — "  In  part." 
Teachers,  29;  scholars,  221  ;  collected  on  Children's  Day 
$10,  and  sent  to  the  Board  of  Education. 

Report  to  the  Church  Conference  by  Rev.  Delos  Lull, 
June  15,  1880: — I  found  the  Sunday-school  in  the  hands  of 
earnest,  devoted  workers.  The  usual  effect  of  removal 
of  families  and  change  of  teachers  is  now  upon  it.  Efforts 
will  be  made  to  gather  to  our  school  especially  the  children 
of  our  own  congregation,  some  of  whom  are  attendants  of 
other  schools.     Number  of  scholars,  200. 

November  15,  1880. — Sunday-school  is  in  excellent  con- 
dition under  the  skilful  management  of  Brother  C.  V.  Clark 
and  his  associates.  There  has  been  removed  by  death  Mrs. 
Noble,  an  earnest  and  faithful  teacher. 

January  6,  1881. — The  Sunday-school  is  in  excellent 
condition.  Number  in  infant  class,  50;  officers  and  teach- 
ers, 41 ;  number  of  scholars,  200.  I  have  preached  twice  to 
the  children  in  the  Conference  year. 

June  14,  1 88 1. — A  good  proportion  of  the  scholars  in 
this  school  at  this  time  are  over  fifteen  years  of  age.  I  have 
preached  to  the  children  twice  during  the  past  quarter. 
The  superintendent  and  associates  are  thorough  in  their 
work. 

October  6,  1881. — The  Sunday-school  connected  with 
this  church  has  been  unusually  well  attended  for  the  season. 
Notwithstanding  the  summer  and  autumn  heat  and  consid- 
erable disappointment  felt  by  the  children  of  this  school 
occasioned  by  a  failure  of  plans  for  a  picnic  excursion,  there 


96  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

has  been  no  abatement  of  interest  or  decrease  in  numbers. 
It  is  my  conviction  that  our  school  should  be  maintained 
without  depending  on  external  and  sensational  methods. 

Dr.  Edgar  M.  Hermance  taught  a  large  Bible-class 
numbering  thirty  young  men  and  women.  This  class  met 
for  five  years  from  1880  to  1885  in  the  west  wing  of  the 
church,  which  at  one  time  was  occupied  by  the  organ  and 
choir.  Many  of  the  pupils  of  that  class  are  now  heads  of 
families  and  recall  with  grateful  appreciation  his  faithful 
and  practical  instruction. 

The  report  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  William  E.  Ketcham,  to 
the  Quarterly  Conference,  May  30,  1883,  says:  We  have  one 
Sunday-school.  It  is  in  charge  of  an  able  superintendent 
and  is  doing  faithful  work.  It  has  a  worthy  record  and  is 
capable  of  great  efficiency.  The  average  attendance  is 
about  230.  I  have  given  five-minute  sermons  to  the  chil- 
dren nearly  every  Sabbath  since,  among  this  people.  Some 
of  the  children  have  been  received  to  full  communion  of 
the  church. 

February  15,  1884. — Our  Sunday-school  is  an  arm  of 
great  strength  to  this  church.  Its  work  is  going  forward 
grandly.  Those  engaged  in  this  department  are  among 
our  most  devoted  and  earnest  members.  Much  money 
is  raised  for  missionary  purposes  by  our  Sunday-school 
missionary  society.  The  average  attendance  is  240.  More 
room  is  required  by  the  Sunday-school  than  is  possible 
to  furnish  in  the  old  church.  I  think  our  Sunday-school 
could  be  relied  upon  to  assist  in  any  movement  looking 
towards  more  and  ample  quarters. 

July  10,  1884. — Amid  the  competition  of  several  schools 
in  this  city  we  stand  at  great  disadvantage.  The  very  at- 
tractive Sabbath-school  rooms  of  no  less  than  five  different 
churches — within  a  stone's  throw  of  ours — have  very  potent 
influence  to  make  drafts  upon  our  own.  The  children  are 
easily  captivated  by  the  neat,  tidy,  and  winning  features  of 
the  room  in  which  they  study  and  worship.  The  illumina- 
ted maps,  the  brilliant  mottoes,  ample  library  rooms,  the 
attractive  parlors,  so  well  and  tastefully  furnished,  are  mag- 
nets of  no  ordinary  power  to  draw  the  children  thereto. 

Our  sixty  infant-class  children  assemble  from  Sabbath  to 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  97 

Sabbath  and  are  compelled  to  occupy  the  dingy  basement, 
where  a  mixture  of  stovepipe  and  furnaces  greets  their  eyes. 
These  children  offer  no  indifferent  plea  for  better  accom- 
modations. We  find  our  school  ardent  with  love  to  missions, 
and  to  their  honor,  be  it  said  they  raise  from  $20  to  $30  per 
month  for  six  months  of  the  year  for  our  General  Missionary 
Society. 

A  conviction  at  present  prevails  that  the  school  would 
be  justified,  in  view  of  the  home  needs,  to  launch  itself  upon 
the  work  of  gathering  funds  for  our  new  church  and  for  the 
time  being  give  less  to  the  General  Missionary  Society.  It 
is  worthy  of  note  that  with  heartiness  the  school  celebrated 
Children's  Day,  June  8,  and  received  benefit  and  instruc- 
tion by  the  addresses  of  Brothers  Andrew  E.  Leffingwell 
and  Myron  T.  Scudder.  A  collection  from  the  children  for 
the  fund  of  the  Board  of  Education  amounted  to  $66. 

The  Methodist  Catechism  is  knocking  at  the  door  of 
our  school,  and  we  speak  for  it  an  early  welcome. 

March  13,  1885. — Our  Sunday-school  has  maintained  a 
very  excellent  and  marked  degree  of  prosperity  during  the 
Conference  year  just  closing.  The  officers  have  been  faith- 
ful and  have  given  much  time  and  attention  to  the  work  of 
the  school.  The  teachers  have  shown  diligence  and  inter- 
est in  their  work. 

Our  infant  class  is  large  and  promising,  although  com- 
pelled to  hold  its  session  in  our  unpromising  lecture-room, 
where  no  maps,  etc.,  are  to  be  found,  so  needful  to  aid  in 
study  and  to  compete  with  neighboring  schools.  New  and 
valuable  accessions  have  been  secured  during  the  year. 

The  missionary  interest  of  our  school  increases  and 
missionary  days  are  occasions  of  real  delight.  Contribu- 
tions are  taken  monthly  with  the  explicit  understanding 
that  for  six  months  of  the  year  the  offerings  are  for  the 
General  Missionary  Society,  and  for  the  remaining  six 
months  of  the  year  for  the  running  expenses  of  the  school. 
The  plan  works  well. 

We  are  inclined  to  the  thought,  which  is  becoming  a 
conviction,  that  the  Sunday-school  may  be  made  an  all-im- 
portant factor  in  aiding  the  new  church  enterprise,  which  it 
is  expected  will  be  launched  soon  with  the  most  flattering 

church  and  Sunday-school  Work.  7 


98  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

prospect  of  success.  The  only  regret  we  cherish  in  sur- 
veying the  secular  work  of  the  school  is  the  failure  to  hold 
with  regularity,  every  month,  a  teachers'  meeting  for  the 
transaction  of  the  many  items  of  business  needful  for  the 
higher  success  of  their  Sabbath-school  work. 

We  have  no  classes  formed  for  religious  instruction 
other  than  the  Sabbath  classes.  Number  of  scholars  in 
school,  240 ;  teachers  and  officers,  59  ;  scholars  over  fifteen 
years  of  age,  140 ;  infant  class,  60. 

June  19,  1885. — The  school  maintains  its  accustomed 
vigor  and  promises  well  for  the  future.  A  new  departure 
is  giving  additional  attention  to  the  monthly  teachers' 
meeting.  To  reason  and  plan  for  the  highest  good  of  the 
school  augurs  well  for  new  interest  during  the  year.  An 
effort  is  now  being  made  to  introduce  the  much  neglected 
catechism  into  the  school. 

The  Children's  Day  exercises  were  attractive  and  ren- 
dered very  popular.  The  school  assembled  in  the  evening 
and  sang  with  remarkable  power.  Two  addresses  were 
made,  one  by  Brother  C.  R.  Leffingwell,  of  our  own  church, 
and  the  other  by  W.  W.  Law,  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Yonkers.  The  addresses  and  singing,  as  well  as 
the  tasteful  and  abundant  floral  display,  merited  and  re- 
ceived very  hearty  appreciation. 

The  old  story  of  limited  accommodation  for  the  school 
need  not  be  repeated,  but  a  better  church  for  such  pur- 
poses is  soon  to  be  reached.  There  are  in  the  records  of 
the  Sunday-school  many  items  which  indicate  a  deep  inter- 
est in  the  new  church  enterprise. 

In  the  spring  of  1879  Messrs.  Bloomer  &  Co.  opened  a 
shirt  manufactory  and  laundry  in  the  building  now  owned 
by  the  Yonkers  Railroad  Company,  corner  Main  Street  and 
Buena  Vista  Avenue.  They  brought  with  them  a  number 
of  Chinamen  to  assist  in  their  work.  An  effort  was  made 
by  two  teachers  of  the  Westminster  Sunday-school  to  bring 
Ithe  Chinese  into  that  school,  which  was  partially  success- 
ful ;  but  their  final  preference  was  given  to  the  Methodist 
Sunday-school,  and  to  this  school  is  accorded  the  honor  of 
taking  the  lead  in  the  noble  work  of  giving  the  gospel  to 
the  Chinese  who  have  come  to  our  shores. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  99 

Rooms  were  hired  by  these  Chinamen  in  Mr.  Bloom- 
er's building,  and  it  soon  became  known  as  the  "  Chinese 
headquarters  "  in  Yonkers.  Here  they  slept  and  ate  their 
meals  and  spent  their  evenings  in  playing  cards  and  in 
other  amusements.  Their  Sundays  were  spent  very  much 
in  the  way  they  had  been  accustomed  in  their  native  land. 
They  had  their  idols  with  all  the  paraphernalia  of  heathen 
worship,  and  so  far  as  they  were  able  they  were  true  and 
devout  heathen  worshippers. 

A  young  boy,  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  stores  in  the  city, 
was  sent  on  errands  by  his  employers  to  the  proprietor  of 
the  factory.  While  waiting  to  be  attended  to  he  talked 
with  these  Chinamen  about  their  work  and  became  very 
much  interested  in  them.  This  interest  was  reciprocated, 
and  one  day  he  asked  one  of  them  if  he  would  like  to  go  to 
Sunday-school,  and  said,  "  My  father  has  a  class  in  Sunday- 
school.     Would  you  like  to  come  to  it  ?" 

The  Chinaman  replied  eagerly,  "  Yesee,  velly  muchee." 

George  went  home  and  said,  "  Father,  will  you  take  a 
Chinaman  in  your  class  next  Sunday  ?"  His  father  con- 
sented. The  next  Sunday  George,  accompanied  by  his 
father,  went  down  to  the  Chinese  headquarters  to  show  the 
Chinaman  the  way  to  school  and  to  protect  him  from  the 
attacks  of  the  street  Arabs  who  persecuted  him. 

This  custom  was  kept  up  for  several  Sundays,  until 
the  new  scholar  was  able  to  come  alone  unaccompanied  by 
his  bodyguard.  Then  the  new  scholar,  Fred  Coon,  brought 
one  of  his  associates.  Lew  To  Gow  by  name.  These  two 
became  inseparable  companions,  and  could  often  be  seen, 
with  their  little  primers  under  their  arms,  wending  their 
way  to  the  Sunday-school. 

But  these  two  youthful  Chinamen  were  not  without 
their  trials  in  their  new  enterprise.  More  than  once  they 
were  accosted  by  rude  boys,  who  stood  on  the  street  corners 
and  shouted  out  as  they  passed,  "  Halloa,  heathen  Chinee, 
how  much  will  you  take  for  your  pigtail  ?"  Once  a  dead 
rat  was  thrown  in  their  way  with  a  rude  remark.  But  they 
passed  on  with  a  calm  dignity  as  though  they  heard  them 
not. 

The  next  Sunday  they  were  accompanied  by  a  third, 


lOO  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

Fred  Coon  acting  as  their  interpreter,  November  2d  of 
the  same  year  their  number  increased  to  seven,  and  the 
next  Sunday  to  twelve. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Terrell  had  rather  an  unruly  class  of 
boys.  Thinking  that  perhaps  another  person  could  man- 
age and  instruct  them  better  than  he,  Mr.  Terrell  gave  up 
his  class  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  twelve  Chinamen, 
who  were  always  attentive,  obedient,  and  very  respectful 
in  their  conduct.     It  was  truly  a  turning  to  the  Gentiles. 

Mr.  Terrell  found  that  he  had  more  scholars  than  he 
could  attend  to  and  was  very  much  perplexed  to  know 
what  to  do.  They  were,  as  he  said,  like  an  "  elephant  on 
his  hands."  They  were  so  earnest  and  eager  for  instruc- 
tion, and  knew  so  little  of  the  English  language,  it  seemed 
a  necessity  that  each  one  should  have  a  teacher. 

An  appeal  was  made  to  the  superintendent,  Mr.  V.  B. 
Clark,  and  it  was  partially  successful.  Yet  more  teachers 
were  needed  and  a  second  appeal  was  made,  when  Miss 
Carrie  W.  Rehorn,  now  a  teacher  in  the  girls'  department 
of  the  High  School  in  Yonkers,  responded  and  brought 
with  her  several  of.  her  associate  teachers.  Then  the  work 
began  in  earnest,  and  the  gallery  in  the  old  church  was  set 
apart  for  their  use  and  was  called  the  Chinese  department 
of  the  school. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards  a  gentleman  from  Boston 
addressed  the  school,  after  which  he  spoke  with  Mr.  Ter- 
rell about  his  work.  Mr.  Terrell  told  him  of  his  perplexi- 
ties and  difficulties,  and  of  his  desire  that  the  work  might 
be  carried  on  more  successfully.  This  gentleman  directed 
him  to  a  lady  who  was  a  member  of  Rev.  Dr.  Howard 
Crosby's  Church  in  New  York,  and  who  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  a  very  successful  teacher  among  the  Chinese 
and  had  an  evening  school  in  White  Street,  New  York. 
He  thought  she  could  solve  his  difficulties  for  him  and  give 
him  many  useful  and  helpful  hints  about  the  work. 

Mr.  Terrell  visited  Miss  Goodrich's  school  several 
times  and  obtained  much  benefit  from  her  methods  of 
teaching.  Miss  Goodrich  passed  from  earth  to  heaven  a 
few  years  ago,  leaving  a  bright  and  enduring  record  of  her 
work.    By  Miss  Goodrich's  advice  Mr.  Terrell  bought  Chi- 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  lOI 

nese  primers  and  Testaments  from  the  American  Tract  So- 
ciety, New  York,  and  found  them  very  useful  in  his  work. 

Lew  To  Gow's  instructor  was  Mrs.  John  P.  Ostrander, 
who  labored  faithfully  and  prayerfully  for  his  conversion, 
and  under  her  careful  instruction  he  became  a  Christian. 
A  few  years  ago  he  died  a  happy  Christian  death  in  San 
Francisco,  where  he  had  gone  hoping  to  regain  his  health. 
Another  one  of  his  class,  Haw  Ling,  was  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  North  Adams,  Mass., 
and  became  a  useful  member  of  that  Society.  Fred  Coon, 
Chumbag  Ham  Dock,  Ching  Tong  Goung,  Ching  Gow 
Goung,  and  Lau  Jone  became  communicants  of  the  First 
Methodist  Church. 

"February  4,  1880,  the  Chinese  celebrated  their  New 
Year  on  Monday.  It  was  a  very  joyous  occasion  and  the 
festivities  lasted  for  several  days.  Many  of  the  Sunday- 
school  teachers  and  their  friends  were  present,  and  the 
affair  wound  up  with  a  firing  off  of  50,000  fire-crackers, 
which  had  been  imported  for  this  purpose.  " 

In  June,  1881,  their  beloved  superintendent,  Theodore 
Terrell,  left  the  city,  as  his  business  called  him  elsewhere. 
For  a  time  Fred  Coon  acted  in  this  capacity,  and  then  Mrs. 
Catherine  B.  Sing  (widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Charles  Sing), 
took  charge  of  them.  She  has  a  deep  interest  in  them  and 
has  kept  up  a  correspondence  with  many  of  them  who  have 
left  Yonkers.  She  has  received  many  interesting  letters 
from  them,  full  of  touching  words  and  thankful  acknowl- 
edgment for  her  untiring  efforts  in  their  behalf. 

The  Chinese  have  always  been  very  grateful  for  what 
has  been  done  for  them,  and  show  their  appreciation  by 
beautiful  gifts  to  their  teachers.  They  are  also  very  be- 
nevolent and  not  unfrequently  are  the  banner  class,  their 
monthly  contributions  being  the  largest  in  the  school. 
One  year  they  contributed  $65  for  missionary  purposes, 
and  once  a  larger  sum. 

In  the  Methodist  Church  Conference  of  New  York 
there  is  but  one  other  school  that  has  a  Chinese  depart- 
ment connected  with  it.  In  regard  to  the  results  of  their 
religious  instruction  received  in  the  Yonkers  school  the 
following  letter  testifies : 


I02  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

"  YoNKERS,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  6,  1S84. 

" Mr.  Theodore  Terrell — Dear  Sir:  I  will  write  you 
a  few  lines  and  let  you  know  I  intend  started  for  China  on 
the  27th  of  this  month.  I  thought  I  come  over  see  you, 
and  all  the  other  friends  what  I  know  them  from  Yonkers, 
and  bid  them  good-by  before  I  gone  back  to  China,  but 
instead  I  write  this  letter.  I  hope  I  see  you  again  when  I 
come  back,  and  will  tell  you  how  glad  I  am  in  America,  and 
how  thankful  to  our  Saviour  Jesus,  who  bids  you  and  all 
the  dear  Yonkers  friends  to  help  the  heathen  Chinese  into 
His  righteous  ways  from  darkness. 

"  When  I  reach  China  I  will  not  go  back  to  worship 
idols  any  more,  but  I  shall  showly  tell  all  my  friends  in 
China  about  the  Mighty  Father  in  Heaven  who  gave  his 
only-begotten  Son,  our  Saviour  Jesus,  to  redeem  the  world 
from  our  sins  and  that  whosoever  believe  in  Him  '  should 
not  perish  but  have  everlasting  life.' 

"  I  also  bring  my  teachers'  and  friends'  photographs 
and  show  it  to  them  and  tell  them  what  kind  of  people  I 
know  in  America,  that  teach  us  the  right  ways  like  brothers 
or  sisters.  Dear  brother,  pray  for  us  all.  May  the  Lord 
hear  your  prayers  and  answer  to  them.  I  will  close  my 
letter  and  go  up  to  Miss  C.  W.  Reborn's  house  for  my  les- 
son. 

"  My  dear  brother,  give  my  kind  regards  to  all  my 
friends  what  I  know, 

"  Your  friend, 

Rev.  Mr.  Ketcham  in  his  report  to  the  New  York  Con- 
ference says  :  "  The  Chinese  department  connected  with 
this  school  is  somewhat  novel,  but  useful  as  an  educational 
power." 

Again  in  his  report  of  June  19,  1885,  he  says:  "The 
Chinese  department  is  still  an  important  feature  in  our 
school.  We  have,  ranging  from  fifteen  to  twenty  China- 
men, careful  and  earnest  students,  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  Catherine  B.  Sing  and  a  band  of  faithful  teachers. 
Recently  another  of  that  class,  with  sincere  desire  to  accept 
Christian  faith  and  teaching,  after  a  critical  examination 
touching  the  leading  doctrines  of  Christianity,  abandoned 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  IO3 

for  ever  his  former  faith  in  idols  and  accepted  Christianity 
and  was  received  by  baptism  into  our  fold.  The  event  will 
ever  be  remembered  by  those  who  were  witnesses  of  it. 
Mrs.  Sing  stood  with  our  brother  from  the  far  East  as  he 
took  the  vows  of  God  upon  him  and  accepted  the  name 
of  a  distinguished  layman,  and  was  baptized  in  the  faith  of 
the  Lord  Jesus." 

The  names  of  the  pupils  in  the  Chinese  department 
in  1887  were  as  follows  :  Fred  Coon,  Ching  Goon,  Lee  Dick, 
Chung  Jan,  Chung  Tong,  Lau  Poo,  B.  Chung,  Chung  Wong, 
Chung  Song,  Chung  Jang,  Chung  Yon,  Lau  H.  Jone,  Lee 
Wing,  Chung  On,  Ah  Ching,  Yon  H.  Quong,  Yong  Gine, 
Yot  Sing,  and  Chung  Hing. 

The  teachers  in  the  Chinese  department  were:  Mrs. 
Catherine  B.  Sing,  Superintendent ;  Theodore  Terrell,  Mrs. 
Terrell,  Miss  Eva  Mackrell,  Miss  Rehorn,  Mrs.  Owen  Van 
Winkle,  Miss  McMahon,  Miss  Pagan,  Mrs.  Yerks,  Miss  Net- 
tie Brown,  Miss  C.  B.  Cronk,  Miss  Mary  Delamater,  Miss 
Campbell,  Miss  I.  Vincent,  Mrs.  Miiller,  Miss  Harriet  Sey- 
mour, Mrs.  Ames,  Mrs.  Fowler,  Miss  Stella  Pearsall,  and 
Miss  Susie  Pearsall. 

The  department  meets  in  the  northwest  class-room, 
over  the  room  occupied  by  the  primary  department.  It  is 
attractively  furnished  with  small  square  tables,  with  pretty 
covers  of  various  designs,  and  a  Mason  and  Hamlin  organ. 
Scripture  mottoes,  Chinese  banners,  and  other  foreign  orna- 
mentations adorn  the  walls.  Mrs.  C.  B.  Sing  continues  the 
faithful  and  zealous  superintendent,  who  with  her  efficient 
corps  of  teachers  are  earnest  and  devoted  in  their  efforts  in 
teaching  their  pupils  the  way  of  life. 

The  department  numbers  twenty -two  pupils.  The 
present  teachers,  April,  1890,  are  Mrs.  Catherine  Andrews, 
Mrs.  John  H.  Brown,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Steele,  Mrs.  Ames, 
Mrs.  Van  Winkle,  Mrs.  Alex.  O.  Kirkwood,  Mrs.  Lucy 
Wheeler,  Mrs.  Minnie  Hogel,  Miss  C.  Cronk,  Miss  Edith 
Pagan,  Miss  Ella  Quick,  Miss  Mary  Delamater,  Miss  Blake- 
more,  Miss  Libbie  Smith,  Miss  Mary  McMahon,  Miss  Em- 
ma Smith,  Mr.  Robert  O.  Kirkwood,  Allan  S.  Kirkwood, 
Miss  Harriet  Seymour,  and  Jennie  O.  Kirkwood. 

The  last  session  of  the  Sunday-school  in  the  old  church 


104  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

building  was  held  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  inter- 
esting feature  of  this  occasion  being  the  bringing  in  of  the 
Sunday-school  barrels  which  contained  the  contributions  to 
the  building  fund  of  the  new  church,  earned  by  the  children 
and  collected  from  others  towards  this  object. 

These  little  barrels  were  about  three  inches  in  height 
and  were  numbered,  the  number  corresponding  to  each 
scholar's  name.  They  bore  this  inscription  :  "  Sunday- 
school  Offering  for  our  New  Church.  First  Methodist 
Episcopal,  Yonkers,  N.  Y." 

After  the  opening  exercises  of  the  school  the  barrels 
were  collected  in  a  large  basket  and  carried  into  the  par- 
sonage adjoining  the  church.  The  secretary,  Mr.  F.  H. 
Connolly,  assisted  by  Mr.  Seymour  Van  Vorst  and  one  of 
the  teachers  of  the  school,  opened  the  barrels  and  counted 
their  contents,  which  consisted  of  coppers,  dimes,  and  dol- 
lars. The  amounts  in  the  barrels  ranged  from  fifty  cents 
to  twelve  dollars. 

In  one  of  these  tiny  barrels,  collected  from  the  Chinese 
department,  was  found  a  copper  coin,  the  value  of  which 
was  equal  to  one  cent  of  U.  S.  money.  This  coin  was  pur- 
chased by  a  member  of  the  school  for  twenty-five  cents  as  a 
memento  of  the  occasion.  After  the  amount  had  been 
ascertained — which  was  $450 — it  was  carried  into  the  school 
and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  W.  E.  Ketcham, 
who  congratulated  the  children  on  the  successful  result  of 
their  efforts,  which  he  had  suggested  to  them,  and  the  joy 
and  enthusiasm  were  participated  in  by  all.  It  was  truly  a 
jubilee  day. 

The  following  Sunday,  June  14,  1886,  the  school  assem- 
bled in  the  old  Sunday-school  room  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  which  had  been  kindly  tendered  to  them  by 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  church  until  their  new  chapel 
was  ready  for  occupancy. 

The  school  continued  to  meet  there  until  they  entered 
their  new  chapel  in  the  fall  of  1887.  Although  there  were 
some  disadvantages  and  inconveniences  occasioned  by  their 
removal  from  their  own  church  home,  and  the  summer 
season  of  that  year  was  peculiarly  trying,  yet  there  was 
no   diminution   in  its  numbers   nor   flagging   of   interest. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  105 

This  was  in  no  small  degree  owing  to  the  faithful  and 
punctual  attendance  of  both  officers  and  teachers.  And 
thus  the  school  was  brought  successfully  through  this  criti- 
cal period  of  its  history.  The  fifteen  months  which  the 
school  spent  under  the  sheltering  roof  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  are  filled  with  pleasant  memories. 

The  chapel  adjoining  their  new  church  edifice  being- 
completed,  the  Sunday-school  held  their  first  session  there 
October  23,  1887. 

The  exercises  of  the  Sunday-school  began  at  2:30 
o'clock  with  the  reading  of  a  selection  of  Scripture  by 
Abram  Austin,  the  superintendent,  followed  by  a  respon- 
sive reading  of  the  lesson  for  the  day,  which  was  from  the 
Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  9:18-21.  The  school  then  united 
in  singing,  with  heart  and  soul,  the  hymn  entitled  "  Bring- 
ing in  the  Sheaves,"  which  hymn  is  a  great  favorite  with 
the  members  of  the  Chinese  department  of  the  school. 
The  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  Dr.  Strobridge,  then  led 
them  in  a  tender,  earnest  prayer,  full  of  thanksgiving  and 
petitions  for  a  present  blessing  to  rest  upon  all  assembled, 
and  for  a  continuance  of  the  blessing  upon  the  future  work 
of  the  school.  The  hymn  "  The  Water  of  Life,"  from  the 
school  hymn-book,  the  "Gem  of  Gems,"  was  then  sung. 
The  singing  was  led  by  Frederick  Hubbell,  and  Winfield  S. 
Soeteman  presided  at  the  organ.  The  school  sustained 
their  reputation  for  good  singing  in  this  hymn  as  in  all 
those  sung  on  this  occasion. 

Then  the  lesson  of  the  day  was  taken  up,  at  the  close 
of  which  the  school  was  called  to  order,  which  took  just 
one  minute  and  a  half,  by  the  superintendent's  watch,  as 
was  announced.  At  the  request  of  the  superintendent 
the  scholars  recited  in  concert  the  memory  texts  of  the 
lesson.  This  was  followed  by  the  recitation  of  the  golden 
text,  which  was  beautifully  and  distinctly  given  by  the 
little  ones. 

Dr.  Strobridge  then  suggested  that  a  vote  of  thanks 
be  given  to  the  Sunday-school  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  this  city  for  the  use  of  the  room  in  their  church 
building,  which  they  had  occupied  for  the  past  fifteen 
months  free  of   charge.      This  suggestion  was   responded 


I06  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

to  with  a  unanimous  and  hearty  ay  from  the.  members  of 
the  school. 

He  also  stated  that  this  vote  of  thanks  was  from  the 
Sunday-school  children  to  the  Sunday-school  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  and  a  written  vote  of  thanks  would 
be  sent  by  the  teachers  and  officers  of  this  school,  to  be 
given  at  the  next  monthly  teachers'  meeting. 

In  concluding  his  address  Dr.  Strobridge  said  : 

"  Now  what  of  the  future  of  this  school  ?  What  are  we 
going  to  do  with  these  new  opportunities,  these  rich  and 
grand  privileges,  and  this  beautiful  Sunday-school  room  ? 
Let  us  begin  the  work  of  the  school  with  a  boom.  And 
how  shall  we  boom  this  school?  First  fill  it  with  new 
scholars.  How  shall  we  do  that?  Let  us  begin  in  this 
way,  on  the  one  boy  and  one  girl  plan — that  is,  each  boy 
and  each  girl  promise  this :  *  I  will  bring  one  new  pupil 
into  this  school  next  Sunday.'  Let  each  one  present  en- 
deavor to  do  this. 

"  And,  secondly,  let  us  begin  a  new  dispensation,  a  new 
economy.  But  these  are  theological  terms.  Let  us  say 
instead  a  new  beginning,  and  you  will  all  understand.  And 
this  second  boom  is  to  make  a  new  beginning  in  the  matter 
of  preparing  the  lesson.  Let  all  study  the  lesson,  and  not 
depend  upon  the  teachers  to  make  the  lesson  interesting  to 
you.     Do  your  part  to  make  it  so. 

"  Now  for  a  motto  for  this  new  room  for  you  to  think 
about  all  the  year  and  in  the  coming  years  :  '  According  to 
your  faith  be  it  unto  you,'  which  is  in  substance  this :  If 
you  do  a  thing,  believe  in  it  and  you  will  strive  for  it.  All 
hail  then  and  welcome  to  you  all  in  this  beautiful  new 
room.     Pray  and  work  for  the  prosperity  of  this  school." 

The  superintendent  followed  in  a  few  brief  remarks, 
fully  indorsing  all  that  the  pastor  had  said,  and  concluding 
with,  "  Now  let  us  try  to  show  our  faith  by  our  works." 

The  school  then  arose  and  repeated  the  Apostles'  Creed 
in  concert,  the  closing  hymn,  "The  New  Song,"  was  sung, 
and  they  were  dismissed  with  the  benediction  by  Dr.  Stro- 
bridge. Thus  ended  the  exercises  of  the  school  on  the 
first  day  in  their  new  schoolroom.  It  was  a  day  long  to  be 
remembered  with  pleasurable  emotions. 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  lO/ 

The  audience-room  of  this  new  chapel  is  very  attract- 
ive. The  walls  are  of  terra  cotta  tint  and  the  ceiling  a 
beautiful  soft  tint  of  green.  The  windows  are  of  opalescent 
glass  and  the  woodwork  of  finely  finished  maple. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  audience-room  is  three 
hundred,  which  does  not  include  the  class-room  at  the  south 
end,  nor  the  two  Bible-class  rooms  at  the  northwest  end. 
There  are  two  other  class-rooms  above  these.  The  library 
room,  on  the  right  of  the  audience-room,  is  pleasant,  and 
has  all  the  appointments  necessary  for  conducting  the  work 
of  the  school. 

It  was  a  merry  company  which  assembled  at  the 
Christmas  celebration  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  First 
Methodist  Church,  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
December,  1886.  There  were  two  Christmas-trees,  and 
every  child  received  a  book,  a  box  of  candy,  and  an  orange. 

Superintendent  A.  Austin  presided,  and  received  a 
special  present  of  a  set  of  the  People's  Cyclopaedia  from  the 
teachers  of  the  school.  Miss  M.  Hodges  directed  the 
music. 

Abram  Austin  was  elected  superintendent  in  January, 
1886.  His  natural  and  marked  executive  ability  and  inde- 
fatigable perseverance  were  exhibited  in  his  management 
of  the  school,  and  under  his  superintendency  it  increased  in 
numbers  and  prosperity.  He  introduced  the  system  of 
rewards — a  reward  being  given  to  the  scholar  who  had 
been  punctual  and  faithful  in  his  attendance  and  perfect 
in  the  commital  of  the  school  lesson  and  Scripture  verses 
during  the  year. 

The  reward  was  either  a  beautiful  and  well-bound  copy 
of  the  Bible,  a  Methodist  hymn-book,  or  any  other  book 
which  the  scholar  might  choose,  provided  the  price  did  not 
exceed  a  certain  sum.     This  system  proved  a  success. 

The  school  held  their  Christmas  celebration  of  1887  in 
the  chapel  of  their  new  church  on  Monday  evening,  De- 
cember 26.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison,  pastor  of  the  Day- 
spring  Church,  interested  the  children  with  one  of  his 
characteristic  and  entertaining  talks.  Their  pastor.  Rev. 
Dr.  Strobridge,  also  spoke  a  few  words  to  them,  after  which 
came  the  distribution  of  the  Christmas  gifts,  which  con- 


I08  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

sisted  of  books  for  the  older  members  of  the  school ;  and 
cornucopias  of  candy,  oranges,  and  attractive  picture  books 
from  a  beautiful  Christmas-tree  were  given  to  the  children 
in  the  Primary  Department.  A  beautifully  illustrated  book 
entitled  "  The  Story  of  the  Bible  "  was  given  to  each  mem- 
ber of  the  Chinese  department  by  their  superintendent, 
Mrs.  Catherine  B.  Sing.  The  Christmas  carols  entitled 
"  We  Hail  Thee  Once  Again,"  "  The  Coming  of  the  King," 
and  the  "  Music  of  the  Christmas  Bells,"  sung  by  the  school, 
added  to  the  interest  of  the  occasion. 

During  the  fall  of  1889  George  D.  Mackay,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Yonkers, 
delivered  a  series  of  "  Pictorial  Bible  Readings."  He  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  John  Kershaw,  the  pastor  of  a  Brooklyn 
Mission  Church,  who  operated  the  stereopticon  and  assisted 
in  the  prayer  and  inquiry  meeting  always  held  after  the 
close  of  the  readings. 

The  subjects  of  the  illustrations  were  Bible  naratives  in 
the  life  of  Christ.  The  pictures  exhibited  were  procured  at 
no  small  expense  by  Mr.  Mackay,  and  were  from  some  of 
the  greatest  paintings  of  ancient  and  modern  times.  There 
were  two  views  of  "  Christ  entering  Jerusalem,"  by  Selous 
and  Dubufe,  "  The  Widow's  Mite,"  by  Barrias,  "  The  Rich 
Young  Ruler,"  by  Lejeune,  "  Christ  Healing  the  Sick  in  the 
Temple,"  by  Benjamin  West.  Other  views  were  :  "  The 
Raising  of  Lazarus,"  "  Healing  the  Woman  with  the  In- 
firmity," "Christ  Eating  with  the  Publicans,"  and  the  "  Re- 
storing of  Sight  to  Bartimaeus,"  Durand's  marvellous  pic- 
ture of  the  secret  watch  of  the  procession  of  Christ  on  his 
way  to  Calvary,  Munkacsy's  "Christ  Before  Pilate,"  Ru- 
ben's "  Descent  from  the  Cross."  Plockhort's  "  Rabboni  " 
was  truly  a  heavenly  vision,  and  one  seemed  to  be  en- 
tranced and  enchained  with  the  surprised  and  enraptured 
Mary. 

Robert's  "  To  Emmaus  "  was  a  powerful  representation 
of  a  scene  that  the  imagination  might  scarcely  venture 
to  picture,  much  less  the  hand  presume  to  portray. 

There  were  five  pictures  by  the  fertile  and  expressive 
pencil  of  Bida — "  The  Women  Bringing  the  Spices,"  "  Mary 
Coming  to  the  Tomb,"  "Jesus  and  the  Ten,"  "Have  Ye 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  IO9 

Any  Meat?"  and  Peter  springing  into  the  water  and  swim- 
ming ashore. 

Thompson's  "  Easter  Dawn  "  floated  into  the  vision 
to  stay  and  inspire.  The  affecting  picture  of  "  Thomas 
Convinced  "  was  admirably  reproduced,  and  Gleyre's  "  As- 
cension "  outshone  the  original  copy.  This  scene  closed  the 
instructive  and  profitable  exhibition  of  Bible  pictures. 

At  the  close  of  each  lecture  there  was  thrown  upon  the 
screen  the  words  of  Matthew  32  :  33,  emphasizing  the  lesson 
therein  contained,  and  followed  with  the  pledge  :  "  I  ac- 
knowledge that  I  am  a  sinner.  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  I  accept  Jesus  Christ 
as  my  Saviour  and  Master.  And  I  ask  the  Lord's  people 
to  pray  with  me  that  I  may  be  kept  faithful."  Small  slips 
were  printed  with  this  pledge  and  rules  for  beginners  in 
Christian  life  on  them,  together  with  passages  showing  the 
authority  for  both  pledge  and  rules,  and  at  the  end  of  each 
lecture,  signatures  to  the  pledges  were  requested.  This 
course  of  Bible-readings  resulted  in  forty-four  accessions  to 
the  membership  of  this  and  other  churches  in  Yonkers. 
The  course  was  also  delivered  at  the  Immanuel  Mission 
Chapel  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers  with 
good  results. 

The  Christmas  Festival  of  1889  was  held  in  the  chapel. 
W.  H.  Hoppock,  the  church  organist,  gave  some  brilliant 
music  before  the  exercises  began,  and  he  also  accompanied 
the  school  upon  the  instrument.  Charles  R.  Leffingwell, 
the  superintendent,  conducted  the  exercises. 

George  D.  jSIackay  made  a  very  pleasing  address, 
during  which  he  related  a  Christmas  legend ;  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Strobridge  had  some  happy  words  to  say,  and  said  them 
happily.  Each  scholar  was  made  the  recipient  of  a  handsome 
book  and  a  basket  of  delicacies.  Superintendent  Leffingwell 
received  a  large  and  beautiful  book  from  the  school :  and 
Assistant  Superintendent  Theodore  Terrell  became  the 
owner  of  a  very  handsome  volume,  the  gift  of  his  superior 
officer.  Elijah  Al.  Yerks  w^as  honored  publicly  by  his  large 
Bible-class,  and  there  were  other  presentations,  of  a  quiet 
order,  between  the  teachers  and  their  classes. 

A  teachers'  meeting  is  held  monthly  for  the  purpose  of 


TIO  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

consultation  in  regard  to  plans  and  methods  used  and  re- 
quired for  carrying  forward  the  work  of  the  school,  the 
presentation  of  reports  of  work  done  during  the  month,  and 
for  the  transaction  of  any  other  business  relative  to  the 
school.  These  meetings  are  well  attended  and  successful 
in  their  results. 

The  school  is  self-supporting  and  contributes  to  the 
missionary  fund  of  the  church  about  $150  annually.  Month- 
ly missionary  meetings  are  held,  and  to  the  class  which 
contributes  the  largest  amount  the  Sunday-school  mission- 
ary banner  is  given,  to  be  kept  for  a  month  or  a  longer 
period,  provided  the  contributions  of  said  class  are  the 
largest  for  that  month.  This  class  is  known  as  the  "  Ban- 
ner Class." 

The  school  has  two  banners — one  of  crimson  silk  with 
gold  fringe,  the  other  of  blue  silk,  on  each  of  which  is  in- 
scribed in  golden  letters,  "  First  Methodist  Sunday-school 
Banner  Class,"  and  "No.  i"  and  "No.  2"  respectively. 
Not  unfrequently  is  the  first  banner  won  and  held  for  more 
than  a  month  by  the  Chinese  department.  The  school  has 
also  a  Birthday-Box. 

The  Young  Men's  Association  connected  with  this 
Church  and  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  1882  by  Rev. 
Delos  Lull.  In  1883  it  became  the  "  Young  People's  Associ- 
ation," President,  Abram  Austin ;  F.  H.  Connolly,  Secretary ; 
George  Christian,  Treasurer.  From  this  Association  was 
formed  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  in  February,  1889. 
This  society  is  now  called  the  Epworth  League.  Its  officers, 
January,  1890,  are  James  McLachlan,  President;  Clarence 
Pearsall,Vice-President ;  William  H.  Schultz,  Secretary ;  and 
Miss  Ella  Lawrence,  Treasurer.    The  membership  is  eighty. 

The  primary  department  in  1887  was  in  charge  of  Miss 
Amanda  Carr,  assisted  by  Miss  Minnie  Hodges,  and  num- 
bered between  fifty  and  sixty  scholars. 

The  superintendent  of  the  department  is  Mrs.  Eleanor 
E.  Paton,  who  is  ably  assisted  by  Mrs.  Bertha  Miiller  and 
Mrs.  Wilcox. 

The  Methodist  Catechism  with  the  lesson  is  taught  in 
this  department.  By  means  of  interesting  Scripture  selec- 
tions, with  word  picture  illustrations  by  the  teacher,  doc- 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  Ill 

trinal  truth  is  made  plain  and  attractive  to  the  little  ones. 
The  illustrated  "  Berean  Leaf  Cluster "  is  also  used,  and 
"  The  Picture  Lesson  Paper,"  with  Scripture  picture  cards 
for  punctuality  and  deportment.  Present  number  of  pupils 
is  fifty. 

The  class-room  at  the  south  end  of  the  main  room  is 
occupied  by  the  large  Bible-class  of  young  women,  num- 
bering thirty,  which  is  taught  by  Miss  Carrie  W.  Rehorn. 

There  are  also  two  other  advanced  Bible-classes  con- 
nected with  the  school,  which  are  taught  by  E.  Yerks  and 
Abram  Austin.  The  former  is  composed  of  young  men 
and  the  latter  of  young  women. 

Sixteen  pupils  from  this  school  during  the  year  1887 
were  received  into  the  full  communion  of  the  church. 

The  officers  of  the  school  in  1887  were  :  Abram  Austin, 
Superintendent ;  Elijah  Yerks,  Assistant  Superintendent ; 
C.  R.  Leffingwell,  Treasurer ;  F.  H.  Connolly,  Secretary  ; 
Miss  Carrie  W.  Rehorn,  first  Woman  Superintendent ;  Miss 
Amanda  Carr,  second  Woman  Superintendent;  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Sing,  Superintendent  of  Chinese  department ;  Fred.  Hub- 
bell,  Organist ;  W.  B.  Sing,  Librarian  ;  Mrs.  George  Bur- 
gess, first  Assistant  Librarian  ;  Harvey  Chase,  second 
Assistant  Librarian. 

The  teachers  were :  Mr.  Palmateer,  Miss  Rehorn,  Mrs. 
Andrus,  Mrs.  A.  Austin,  Miss  Chadburn,  Mrs.  Devoe,  Mrs. 
Archibald,  Miss  Ella  Lawrence,  Miss  Kitty  Lawrence,  Miss 
Mary  Calahan.  IMiss  Ida  Pollock,  Miss  Rennie  Kenworthy, 
Miss  Georgie  Haines,  Miss  Emma  Chadeayne,  Miss  Gor- 
man, Miss  Emma  Shaler,  Miss  Miriam  Burgess,  Miss  Heath- 
er, Miss  Steele,  Miss  Fones,  Miss  Alma  Embree,  Miss  Eva 
Chadburn,  Miss  Minnie  Hodges,  Miss  Strobridge,  Miss 
Amanda  Carr,  David  Burgess,  George  Craven,  George  Odell, 
J.  B.  Odell,  and  Elijah  Yerks. 

The  school  numbered  270  scholars. 

Mr.  Austin  resigned  the  superintendency  of  the  school 
in  March,  1888,  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles  R.  Leffing- 
well. 

In  June,  1888,  the  service  on  "Children's  Day"  was 
held  in  the  church.  The  programme  carried  out  was  that 
prepared  by  Dr.  Payne  and  Miss  Baldwin  for  the  Board  of 


112  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Education  of  the  Methodist  Church.  W.  H.  Hoppock  pre- 
sided at  the  organ,  and  Mr.  Poindexter,  the  precentor, 
directed  the  children  in  singing.  Superintendent  Leffing- 
well  led  in  the  responsive  reading.  Dr.  Strobridge  made  a 
fine  address.     The  floral  decorations  were  very  beautiful. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1889  attracted  all  the  schol- 
ars and  a  large  number  of  friends  to  the  church  in  which  it 
was  held.  A  well-arranged  programme  of  recitations  and 
singing  of  carols  was  carried  out  in  a  charming  manner. 
A  fine  Christmas-tree,  resplendent  in  its  dress  of  gifts  and 
lights,  stood  on  the  platform,  the  admiration  of  the  chil- 
dren. 

The  patriotism  of  the  school  was  shown  in  the  late 
civil  war,  when  five  of  its  members  went  out  from  it  to 
engage  in  the  defence  of  our  country,  namely,  John  For- 
syth, Alonzo  Craw,  James  Duff,  James  H.  Hanny,  and 
James  Beasley. 

The  lesson  helps  used  by  this  school  are  the  "  Sunday- 
school  Journal,"  edited  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.  D,,  and 
the  "  Berean  Leaf."  In  the  primary  department  is  used 
the  illustrated  "  Berean  Leaf  Cluster  "  by  the  same  author, 
and  the  Picture  Lesson  Paper  published  by  Phillips  & 
Hunt.  The  Sunday-school  hymn-book  is  the  "  Epworth 
Hymnal."  The  number  of  books  in  the  library  is  651.  A 
new  library  is  to  be  purchased  for  the  school. 

The  Children's  Mission  Band  was  organized  January, 
1889,  ^'^^  raised  for  "  Pawhuska  Home,"  Indian  Territory, 
$40.  Its  officers,  January,  1890,  were:  Mrs.  Hattie  Terrell. 
President ;  Miss  Bertha  Steele,  Secretary ;  Master  Robert 
Strobridge,  Treasurer.     Its  membership  was  sixty. 

This  school  has  always  taken  a  prominent  and  decided 
stand  in  the  temperance  cause,  and  a  number  of  its  officers 
and  teachers  are  actively  engaged  in  the  temperance  work. 
Mrs.  Merritt  H.  Smith,  who  for  many  years  was  the  teacher 
of  a  large  adult  Bible-class  of  the  school,  was  the  first  pres- 
ident of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of 
Yonkers,  and  continued  so  to  be  for  a  number  of  years  and 
until  her  removal  from  the  city. 

A  former  secretary  of  the  school,  F.  H.  Connolly,  or- 
ganized the  order  of  "  Good  Templars  "  in  Yonkers.    Many 


THE   FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  II3 

of  its  pupils  are  members  of  the  Band  of  Hope  of  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

The  present  (January,  1891)  number  of  scholars  of  all 
ages  is  320. 

The  officers  of  the  missionary  society  of  the  school 
are:  Theodore  Terrell,  President;  Frank  H.  Connolly, 
Vice-President ;  Clarence  A.  Pearsall,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer. 

The  additions  to  the  communion  of  the  church  from 
this  Sunday-school  in  the  past  years  of  its  history,  have 
been  very  many.  These  persons  have  in  turn  been  instru- 
mental in  leading-  others  into  the  enjoyment  of  the  same 
blessings  and  privileges  with  themselves  in  connection 
with  the  church,  and  many  have  gone  out  from  this  school 
who  are  now  filling  positions  of  usefulness  in  the  world. 

Rev.  John  G.  Oakley,  Ph.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Thirteenth 
Street  Methodist  Church,  New  York  city,  who  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  from  the  Grant 
Memorial  University,  June,  1889,  was  a  member  of  this 
school,  and  Rev.  Edwin  T.  Brush  who  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  at  Fremont, 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  April,  1890. 

The  superintendents,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
have  been :  Frederic  Shonnard,  the  first  superintendent  as 
far  back  as  1826;  Garret  Norton,  Daniel  Blauvelt,  1861-2; 
Rev.  Daniel  T.  ]\Iacfarlan,  1863-4;  John  W.  Oliver,  1867-70; 
Rev.  D.  T.  Macfarlan,  187 1-2;  Dr.  A.  W.  Lozier,  1873-4;  S. 
C.  Lusk,  1875-6 ;  V.  B.  Clark,  1877-85  (Edwin  A.  Oliver  was 
acting  superintendent  for  a  brief  period  during  the  absence 
of  Mr.  V.  B.  Clark  in  1886);  x\bram  Austin,  1886-8;  and 
Charles  R.  Leffingwell,  elected  March,  1888-90. 

The  officers  of  the  school,  January,  1890,  were:  C.  R. 
Leffingwell,  Superintendent;  Theodore  T-errell,  Assistant 
Superintendent ;  Mrs.  C.  B.  Sing,  first  Assistant  Lady  Su- 
perintendent;  Miss  Carrie  W.  Rehorn,  second  Assistant 
Lady  Superintendent ;  James  A.  McLachlan,  Secretary ; 
Stephen  Bell,  Treasurer ;  William  Vincent,  Librarian ; 
Charles  Hall,  Assistant  Librarian. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Sunday-school  Board  of  the 
First  Methodist  Church  was  held  in  the  chapel  on  Monday 

Church  and  Sunday-school  Work.  O 


114  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

evening,  March  lo,  1890.  Rev.  Dr.  Strobridge  presided,, 
and  there  was  a  large  attendance.  The  reports  showed  the 
school  to  be  free  from  debt  and  the  average  attendance 
through  the  year  to  have  been  203.  Officers  elected :  Elijah 
M.  Yerks,  Superintendent;  Stephen  T.  Bell,  Assistant; 
Miss  Carrie  W.  Rehorn  and  Mrs.  Catherine  Sing,  Female 
Assistants ;  James  McLachlan,  Secretary  ;  Wm.  M.  Schultz, 
Assistant ;  Frank  E.  Wheeler,  Treasurer  ;  Charles  Hallam, 
Librarian  ;  William  F.  Vincent  and  Vincent  Mitchell,  As- 
sistants. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  report  resolutions  ex- 
pressing the  sense  of  the  Board  in  regard  to  the  faithful 
services  of  the  retiring  superintendent,  Charles  R.  Leffing- 
well,  who  declined  a  reelection.  A  delightful  feeling  of 
unity  characterized  the  meeting. 

The  following  are  the  present  (April,  1891)  officers  of 
the  school:  Elijah  M.  Yerks,  Superintendent;  Theodore 
Terrell,  Mrs.  Catherine  B.  Sing,  and  Miss  Carrie  W.  Rehorn, 
Assistant  Superintendents  ;  William  M.  Schultz,  Secretary  ; 
Frank  E.  Wheeler,  Treasurer;  Charles  L.  Hallamx,  Libra- 
rian ;  Vincent  Mitchell,  Assistant  Librarian. 

The  teachers,  in  addition  to  those  in  the  Chinese  de- 
partment, are  :  Mr.  A.  Austin,  Mr.  O.  L.  Austin,  Mr.  F.  H. 
Connolly,  Miss  Bricker,  Miss  Chadburn,  Miss  Callahan, 
Miss  Heather,  Miss  Hogel,  Miss  Ketcham,  Miss  Lawrence, 
Miss  Pearsall,  Miss  Rehorn,  Miss  Steele,  Miss  Vincent, 
Miss  Embree,  Miss  Deen,  Mrs.  Schell,  Mrs.  Patterson,  Miss, 
Macfarlan,  Mr.  F.  E.  Wheeler,  Mr.  W.  H.  Terrell,  Mr.  T. 
Terrell. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        I  15 

CHAPTER   VI  . 

THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  facts  concerning  the  organization  of  this  church 
are  gathered  from  the  historical  address  delivered  at  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  Reformed  Church,  April 
23,  1868,  by  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  present  pastor  of  the 
church. 

The  history  of  the  Reformed  Church,  known  as  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Yonkers  till  November,  1867 
(when  the  denomination  of  which  it  is  a  branch,  and  which 
was  called  the  Protestant  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of 
America,  dropped  the  word  Dutch,  and  from  that  date  has 
been  called  the  Reformed  Church  in  America),  goes  back 
to  the  spring  of  1841,  at  which  time  there  were  but  two 
churches  in  Yonkers,  the  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  and 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  both  of  which  were 
located  on  Broadway,  or  the  Albany  post  road,  as  it  was 
then  called. 

There  were  at  that  time  only  two  residents  of  Yonkers 
who  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
in  Market  Street,  New  York.  They  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Bashford,  of  New  York,  who  then  attended  the 
church  of  Dr.  Van  Pelt  at  Fordham.  There  were  other 
persons  who  formerly  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church 
who  resided  here,  and  who  often  expressed  to  each  other  a 
desire  for  a  church  of  the  Presbyterian  order  and  govern- 
ment. 

Mr.  Eben  S.  Hammond,  a  student  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  was  the  first  person 
who  preached  to  these  people,  April  18,  1841.  He  came  to 
Yonkers  on  introduction  by  a  letter  from  Rev.  William  S. 
Moore  to  Duncan  Macfarlane.  Mr.  Moore  introduced  him 
as  a  young  theological  student  about  to  visit  Yonkers,  who 
might  be  prevailed  upon  to  lecture  here  some  evening 
during  his  stay. 

Two  days  after  his  coming  Mr.  Hammond  met  Rev. 


Il6  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

George  Dubois,  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Tarrytown,  and 
Rev.  William  S.  Moore,  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Union- 
ville.  After  a  conference,  in  which  the  religious  wants  of 
the  village  and  the  desire  which  had  been  expressed  by 
the  little  gatherings  for  a  church  of  the  Presbyterian  order 
in  Yonkers  were  discussed,  these  clergymen  determined  to 
present  the  matter  before  the  Classis  of  New  York  at  a 
meeting  held  the  same  day,  April  20,  1841.  This  was 
accordingly  done  by  Rev.  Mr.  Dubois,  and  the  Classis  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  visit  Yonkers  and  report  at  the  fall 
session. 

The  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  Peter  I.  Van  Pelt, 
D.  D.,  of  Fordham,  Rev.  Thomas  De  Witt,  D.  D.,  of  New 
York,  and  Rev.  George  Dubois,  of  Tarrytown.  Rev.  Mr. 
Dubois  during  the  summer  of  1841  started  mission  services 
at  Yonkers,  and  was  assisted  in  his  work  by  Mr.  Charles 
Dusenberry,  of  Tuckahoe,  who  had  formerly  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Franklin  Street  Reformed  Church  in  New  York, 
of  which  Rev.  Mr.  Dubois  was  formerly  the  pastor. 

Mr.  Dusenberry  expressed  the  desire  that  the  people 
residing  in  his  own  locality  might  unite  in  a  joint  effort  in 
maintaining  a  pastor  in  Yonkers  and  also  in  Greenville, 
eight  miles  from  Yonkers.  Mr.  Dusenberry's  suggestion 
met  with  a  favorable  response,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Dubois  con- 
ducted services  at  both  of  these  places  in  the  summer  of 
1 84 1.  The  report  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Dubois  resulted  in 
the  appointment  of  a  list  of  supplies,  and  preaching  servi- 
ces were  appointed  to  be  held  at  Yonkers  every  Sunday 
morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is 
now  called  Greenville. 

The  first  ministerial  supply  was  Rev.  Samuel  Van 
Vranken,  D.  D.  The  service  was  held  in  what  was  called 
the  "  Long  Room,"  being  two  apartments  which  opened 
into  each  other  and  which  were  on  the  ground  floor  of  an 
unoccupied  building  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Main  Street.  This  building  was  owned  by 
Lemuel  Wells,  Sr.,  whose  residence  was  Manor  Hall  (now 
the  Yonkers  City  Hall  on  Warburton  Avenue).  The  build- 
ing was  afterwards  purchased  by  Robert  P.  Getty,  and  is 
now  on  Riverdale  Avenue  near  Washington  Street. 


THE   REFORMED    CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        11/ 

This  building  was  kindly  loaned  for  these  services  by- 
Mr.  Wells.  The  room  was  fitted  out  temporarily  with  seats 
loaned  by  the  First  Methodist  Church  from  their  lecture- 
room.  A  pulpit  was  hastily  constructed  by  George  Schlip- 
er,  one  of  the  original  members,  the  cost  of  which  was 
three  dollars.  The  seats  were  brought  in  the  evening  by 
Duncan  Macfarlane  and  Lewis  Ritter,  the  latter  a  colored 
man,  who  subsequently  became  a  communicant  of  St. 
John's  Church,  and  was  chosen  sexton  of  that  church  in 
1847.  These  two  persons  spent  the  entire  evening  in  ar- 
ranging the  room  for  Dr.  Van  Vranken's  service.  They 
were  about  leaving  the  room  at  twelve  o'clock  midnight, 
when  they  felt  constrained  to  go  back  and  pray  for  the 
divine  blessing  on  the  new  enterprise  about  to  be  begun. 
They  did  so,  and  two  earnest  prayers  were  offered. 

The  Methodist  people,  having  no  service  of  their  own, 
attended  Dr.  Van  Vranken's  service  that  evening,  and 
Messrs.  Garret  Norton  and  David  Howell  of  that  church 
kindly  led  the  singing. 

On  January  9,  1842,  preaching  services  were  conducted 
by  Rev.  William  S.  Moore. 

The  next  service  in  this  building  worthy  of  record  was 
held  on  Sunday  morning,  August  21,  1842,  when  Rev.  Vic- 
tor Moreau  Hulbert,  a  recent  graduate  from  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  preached  from  the  text, 
"  Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the  wilderness  leaning 
upon  her  Beloved?"     Solomon's  vSong  8  :  5. 

The  first  audience  consisted  of  about  forty  persons. 
The  choir  was  led  by  Bailey  Hobbs.  Ralph  Shipman 
played  the  bass  viol.  The  other  singers  were  Miss  Mary 
Elizabeth  Bashford  (now  Mrs.  Edward  Van  Sice),  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Kniffin  (now  Mrs.  William  Percival),  Lemuel 
W.  Wells,  Henry  Gale,  and  Parven  Cantrell.  The  result 
of  this  service  was  that  Mr.  Hulbert  was  employed  as  a 
permanent  supply  by  the  two  neighborhoods  of  Yonkers 
and  Greenville,  as  yet  neither  of  them  formally  organized. 

The  official  relations  of  the  new  supply  for  the  Yon- 
kers mission  began  September  i,  1842. 

The  Society  at  Greenville  soon  erected  a  church  build- 
ing, the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  June  13,  1842,  and 


Il8  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOO'L   WORK. 

the  formal  organization  of  the  church  and  the  dedication 
of  the  building  took  place  the  same  day,  November  9,  1842, 
Rev.  William  S.  Moore  taking  part  in  both  services.  Rev. 
Victor  M.  Hulbert  received  a  call  to  become  its  pastor,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  such  on  Wednesday,  January 
4,  1843.  The  ordination  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Knox.  Rev.  Dr.  De  Witt  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor, 
and  Rev.  George  Dubois  the  charge  to  the  people.  The 
joint  relations  of  the  two  congregations  continued  until 
1845,  more  than  three  years,  during  which  period  Rev.  Mr. 
Hulbert  served  the  church  of  Yonkers  simply  as  a  supply. 
He  came  to  them  on  Saturday  of  each  week  and  taught  a 
singing  school  in  the  evening. 

April  18,  1843,  Rev.  Mr.  Hulbert,  on  behalf  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Yonkers,  presented  a  request  to  the  Classis  of  New 
York  for  a  formal  organization  of  the  people  into  a  church. 
A  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Dubois  and  Hul- 
bert, was  appointed  to  organize.  The  people  met  for  this 
purpose  April  23,  1843,  ^^  the  close  of  the  morning  service. 
Twenty-nine  persons  were  received  into  communion,  eight- 
een upon  profession  and  eleven  upon  certificate.  From  the 
members  received,  Lemuel  W.  Wells  and  Duncan  Macfar- 
lane  were  chosen  elders,  and  Frederick  Nodine  and  Ralph 
Shipman  deacons. 

Lemuel  Wells,  Sr.,  took  a  deep  interest  in  this  new 
church  enterprise,  often  entertaining  the  ministerial  sup- 
plies at  his  residence.  Manor  Hall.  He  had  generously 
given  the  plot  of  ground  for  the  First  Methodist  Church, 
and  he  was  solicited  during  the  year  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  February  11,  1842.  to  give  the  plot  of 
ground  for  the  Reformed  Church  also.  He  was  willing  to 
do  this,  but  before-  he  carried  out  his  purpose  he  died. 
Meanwhile  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Wells  had  come  into  possession 
of  his  estate,  and  Lemuel  Watts  Wells,  his  nephev/,  held  a 
power  of  attorney  for  all  the  heirs. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  and  prosper- 
ity of  the  new  enterprise  from  its  earliest  beginnings. 
He  was  a  member  of  its  first  choir  and  an  elder  in  its  first 
consistory,  in  which  latter  relation  he  remained  until  April 
26,  1852.     A  church  meeting  was  called  July  29,  1844,  to 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        II9 

talk  over  the  matter  of  the  erection  of  a  church  building. 
At  this  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted  to  incorporate  the 
church  under  an  act  passed  April  5,  181 3,  entitled  "An  act 
to  provide  for  the  incorporation  of  religious  societies."  Ac- 
cordingly on  July  30,  1844,  this  church  was  incorporated 
and  legally  styled  "  The  Ministers,  Elders,  and  Deacons  of 
the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  of  Yonkers,  County 
of  Westchester  and  State  of  New  York." 

After  discussing  the  subject  of  the  church  building 
the  following  committees  were  appointed  : 

On  Site :  Hiram  Searl,  Henry  Gale,  Rev.  Victor  M. 
Hulbert,  Frederick  Nodine. 

On  Building  :  Lemuel  W.  Wells,  Hiram  Searl,  Ethan 
Flagg. 

Consulting  Committee :  Rev.  Victor  M.  Hulbert,  Hon. 
Aaron  Vark,  Duncan  Macfarlane. 

The  committee  on  site  reported  August  .3,  1844,  in 
favor  of  the  present  site  on  Broadway  (now  South  Broad- 
way), between  Hudson  and  Prospect  Streets,  which  was 
adopted. 

Lemuel  W.  Wells,  in  behalf  of  the  heirs  of  his  uncle, 
donated  the  present  site  to  the  congregation,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  five  were  appointed  to  solicit  funds  for  the  new 
building. 

The  committee  on  building  reported  August  24,  pre- 
senting plans  and  specifications,  with  estimates.  The  plans 
were  adopted,  and  the  contract  was  awarded  to  Henry  Gale 
upon  his  estimate,  $3,250.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  on  the  15th  of  October,  when  Rev.  Mr. 
Hulbert  offered  the  opening  prayer,  Rev.  Dr.  Marselus 
delivered  the  address.  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Pelt  offered  the  last 
prayer^  and  the  service  was  closed  with  singing  by  the 
Sunday-school  children. 

After  these  exercises  the  ladies  held  a  fair  at  Manor 
Hall  and  realized  during  the  day  and  evening  $220  towards 
furnishing  the  church.  The  first  service  was  held  in  the 
new  building,  August  24,  1845.  The  dedicatory  services 
were  held  on  Wednesday,  August  27,  1845.  Rev.  Dr.  Van 
Pelt  pronounced  the  invocation  and  read  the  Scriptures. 
Then  came  the  singing  of  the  twenty-seventh  Psalm,  which 


I20  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK, 

was  followed  by  the  opening  prayer  and  a  chant  by  the 
choir.  Rev.  Victor  M.  Hulbert  delivered  an  address  and 
offered  the  dedicatory  prayer.  After  singing  of  another 
hymn  Rev.  Dr.  De  Witt  delivered  the  sermon  and  offered 
the  closing  prayer. 

"A  chant,  the  doxology,  and  the  benediction  closed 
the  interesting  services,  and  the  newly  erected  building 
stood  thenceforth  among  the  people  a  grateful  tribute  of 
their  hearts  and  hands,  and  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost." 

On  November  12,  1845,  Rev.  Victor  M.  Hulbert  (now 
Rev.  Dr.  Hulbert),  having  received  a  call  from  his  Yonkers 
people,  was  installed  as  their  pastor,  and  continued  in  this, 
his  first  pastorate  of  this  church,  till  April  18,  1848,  when 
he  received  a  call  made,  declined,  repeated,  and  then  ac- 
cepted, from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Flatbush,  Ulster 
County,  N.  Y.  When  he  left  Yonkers,  100  members  were 
on  the  roll. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Isaac  S.  Demund,  who  was 
installed  here  October  8,  1848.  Under  his  pastorate  the 
present  parsonage  adjoining  the  church  was  built.  Mr. 
Ethan  Flagg  presented  to  the  consistory  the  lot  upon  which 
it  stands.  Rev.  Mr.  Demund  continued  in  the  pastorate  of 
this  church  till  April  16,  1850,  when  he  resigned  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Belleville,  N.  J.  At 
his  departure  1 1 2  members  were  left  on  the  roll.  The  con- 
gregation again  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Mr.  Hulbert  to 
become  their  pastor,  but  he  declined. 

Rev.  Dwight  M.  Seward  (now  Rev.  Dr.  Seward),  of  the 
Congregational  Church  of  West  Hartford,  Conn.,  received 
a  call  to  become  their  pastor,  which  was  accepted.  His 
installation  took  place  on  February  12,  185 1,  and  he  contin- 
ued with  the  church  till  April  26,  1852,  when  he  withdrew 
to  become  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Yonkers,  which  was  organized  May  10  of  the  same  year. 
At  that  date  the  membership  of  the  church  was  1 1 8. 

The  Rev.  V.  M.  Hulbert  was  again  invited  to  return, 
and  consented.  He  was  reinstalled  November  9,  1852,  and 
remained  with  the  church  till  September  21,  1865.  At  his 
coming  the  church  filled  rapidly,  and  the  enlargement  of 


THE    REFORMED    CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         121 

the  church  became  a  necessity.  It  was  rededicated  in 
June,  1854.  A  parsonage  was  also  built  on  the  north  side 
of  the  church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hulbert's  pastorate  of  this  church,  exclusive 
of  his  early  missionary  period,  extended  over  fifteen  years. 
At  the  close  of  his  second  and  last  pastorate  the  church 
prospered,  but  its  financial  burdens  were  great,  and  a  debt 
of  $7,650  was  left  on  the  church  property.  The  member- 
ship of  the  church  was  148. 

Of  the  three  pastors,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hulbert  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Seward  are  still  living.  Rev.  Isaac  S.  Demund  died 
at  Ridgewood,  N.  Y.,  April  23,  1888.  Rev.  Dr.  Hulbert 
resides  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Seward  at 
South  Norwalk,  Conn. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D., 
was  born  at  the  family  homestead.  Spring  Valley,  N.  Y., 
September  22,  1822.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Isaac  D.  and 
Maria  Shatzel  Cole,  being  on  his  father's  side  of  Holland, 
and  on  his  mother's  of  German,  Welsh,  and  Holland  de- 
scent. He  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  Rutgers  Col- 
lege in  October,  1839,  ^^^  was  graduated  in  July,  1842. 
He  followed  the  profession  of  teaching  from  graduation 
till  November,  1858.  He  taught  select  schools  of  his  own 
at  Tappan,  N.  Y.,  and  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  In  1851  he 
became  principal  of  Trenton  Academy  at  Trenton,  N.  J. 
In  1855  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rodman  N.  Price  a 
member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State  Normal 
School  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  July,  1857,  he  became  Profes- 
sor of  Latin  and  Greek  in  that  institution.  He  was  licensed 
April  13,  1858,  at  Pennington,  N.  J.,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  to  preach  the  gospel.  On  the  twenty-third 
day  of  November  of  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church 
of  East  Millstone,  Somerset  County,  N.  J.  In  February, 
1863,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  the  Greek  Language  and 
Literature  in  Rutgers  College,  and  entered  upon  his  work 
there  March  16,  1863,  leaving  his  pastorate  at  Millstone 
April  I.  On  the  8th  of  December,  1865,  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Yonkers,  over 
which  he  was  installed  pastor  on  the  loth  of  January,  1866. 


122  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  as  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
has  been  connected  prominently  for  years  with  its  institu- 


tions and  work,  and  has  held  the  highest  official  positions  in 
its  gift.     In  1884  he  was  President  of  the  General  Synod  of 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 23 

the  Reformed  Church  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  in  1887 
he  was  also  delegated  to  represent  the  church  in  the  Fourth 
General  Council  of  the  Alliance  of  the  Reformed  Churches 
holding  the  Presbyterian  System  which  convened  at  Lon- 
don, England,  July,  1888. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole's  pastorate  began  with  a  debt  of  $7,650, 
of  which  $1,650  was  paid  at  once.  In  1868  the  church 
chapel  was  built  adjoining  the  church,  the  parsonage  hav- 
ing been  removed  to  the  corner  of  Prospect  and  Clinton 
Streets,  and  continued  to  be  the  pastor's  residence  till  the 
spring  of  1872. 

Improvements  were  made  in  the  church  costing  nearly 
$6,400.  In  the  spring  of  1872  the  Prospect  Street  parsonage 
was  sold  for  $7,500,  and  the  fine  parsonage  on  122  Warbur- 
ton  Avenue  was  bought  for  $16,000.  In  the  same  year  the 
interior  of  the  church  was  improved  at  a  cost  of  $5,500. 
After  all  these  outlays  and  the  maintaining  of  the  running 
expenses  of  the  church  for  three  years,  it  was  found  in  the 
spring  of  1875  that  the  church  indebtedness  was  $13,500. 
In  the  darkest  of  times  financially  to  the  country  the  con- 
gregation bravely  paid  the  debt. 

In  1884  the  first  parsonage,  which  was  lost  to  the 
church  in  the  events  of  1852,  was  recovered  by  purchase  for 
$12,000,  and  put  in  order  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 

The  total  amount  contributed  by  the  church  during 
Dr.  Cole's  pastorate  up  to  April  i,  1890,  was  $191,950  86,  of 
which  $31,519  14  was  given  to  benevolent  objects. 

The  debt  on  the  church  property  is  $3,800  on  its  par- 
sonage and  $3,000  on  its  church  chapel,  the  Ludlow  Street 
Mission  Chapel.  The  church  property,  lying  in  the  centre 
of  the  city  on  South  Broadway,  is  very  valuable. 

A  problem  is  before  the  people  of  this  church  whether 
they  shall  enlarge  the  present  building  or  erect  a  new 
church  edifice.  The  building,  at  this  writing,  would  not  on 
the  lower  floor  hold  even  the  members  in  communion  if 
they  should  all  be  present  at  any  one  service ;  much  less 
would  it  accommodate  its  own  non-communicants  and  give 
room  for  visitors. 

A  building  committee,  consisting  of  the  following  gen- 
tlemen, George   Stewart,  Chairman,  Wm.   H.   Dick,  John 


124  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Pagan,  Virgil  Myers,  Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  and  James 
Kellock,  has  been  appointed,  and  plans  and  specifications 
for  a  new  church  edifice  have  been  prepared. 

Many  precious  seasons  of  revivals  have  been  enjoyed 
by  this  church  under  Dr.  Cole's  ministry,  and  "  he  has 
been  permitted  to  welcome  414  souls  by  profession  of  their 
faith  into  the  communion  of  this  church.  How  many  more 
have  been  savingly  impressed  by  his  fervent  words,  the 
revelations  of  the  great  day  of  the  Lord  shall  disclose." 

The  membership  of  the  church  at  this  writing,  Novem- 
ber, 1890,  is  411. 

A  printed  directory  of  church  services  and  of  general 
information  is  issued  annually.  The  last  year,  ending 
April  30,  1890,  gives  the  total  amount  of  the  gifts  of  the 
congregation  to  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  to  be  $982  40. 

Public  exercises  were  held  in  the  church  on  Thursday, 
December  11,  1890,  at  7:30  P.  M.,  in  commemoration  of  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  Rev.  David 
Cole,  D.  D.,  as  pastor  of  the  church. 

By  request  of  the  committee,  Mr.  James  Stewart,  an 
elder  of  the  church  since  May,  1866,  presided  at  the  service. 
The  music  was  under  the  conduct  of  Prof.  Edwin  Moore, 
the  church  organist,  and  the  singing  was  furnished  by  the 
following  quartette,  namely,  Miss  Evelyn  Neely,  soprano ; 
Miss  Dora  L.  Costello,  contralto;  Mr.  William  J.  Moore, 
tenor ;  and  Mr.  Walter  Thomas,  bass. 

The  following  was  the  order  of  exercises : 

1.  Organ  Voluntary. 

2.  Anthem — "  Sing  ye  to  God." 

3.  Invocation        -----      Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison. 

4.  Reading  of  Sytli  Psalm      -  Rev.  W.  McKendree  Darvvood,  D.  D. 

5.  Prayer      -----        Rev.  Alvah  S.  Hobart,  D.  D. 

6.  Address   ------  Rev.  John  Reid,  D.  D. 

7.  Address William  Allen  Butler,  LL.  D. 

8.  Singing. 

9.  Address    -        - Rev.  John  K.  Allen, 

Pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  Tarrytown,  rep- 
resenting the  Classis  of  Westchester. 
10.  Address      -        -        -        -         Rev.  Joachim  Elmendorf,  D.  D., 

Pastor  of  the  First  Collegiate  Reformed  Church  of  Har- 
lem, representing  the  Reformed  Church  in  America  as 
a  denomination. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        12$ 

11.  Closing  Words Rev.  Dr.  Cole. 

12.  Singing. 

13.  Benediction       -        -        -        -      Rev.  William  H.  Mills,  D.  D. 

consistory's  committee  of  arrangements. 
Joseph  H.  Palmer,  James  Kellock, 

Nathan  S.  King,  M.  D.,  Le  Grand  W.  Ketchum, 

Alden  C.  Tompkins. 

THE   ladies'   committee   ON   RECEPTION. 

Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Drinkwater,  Mrs.  David  H.  Ketchum, 

Mrs.  Sidney  S.  Peck,  Mrs.  John  P.  Radcliff, 

Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Palmer,  Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins, 

Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Ackert,  Miss  Mary  Berwick, 

Mrs.  James  H.  Wheeler,  Miss  Anna  M.  See. 

The  exercises  throughout  were  deeply  impressive. 

"The  addresses  were  commemorative  of  a  pastorate 
that  in  point  of  length  has  been  frequently  equalled  and 
even  surpassed,  but  which  has  been  characterized  by  a  loy- 
alty to  Christ  and  his  church  that  can  scarcely  be  ex- 
celled. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  services  at  the  church  a  reception 
was  held  at  the  parsonage.  Both  the  audience  at  the 
church  and  the  gathering  at  the  parsonage  were  represent- 
ative of  the  highest  church  life  and  the  best  citizenship  of 
Yonkers.  With  but  three  or  four  exceptions  all  the  pas- 
tors and  resident  clergymen  of  the  city  were  at  both,  and  a 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  abroad." 

Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  were  the  recipients  of  valuable 
gifts  and  testimonials  from  their  people  and  friends. 

It  may  be  inferred  from  Dr.  Cole's  long  pastorate  that 
he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people,  which 
does  not  diminish  with  the  passing  years. 

The  pastors  and  the  length  of  their  pastorates  of  the 
Reformed  Church  are  as  follows :  Rev.  Victor  Moreau 
Hulbert,  November  12,  1845,  to  April  18,  1848;  Rev.  Isaac 
S.  Demund,  October  8,  1848,  to  April  16,  1850;  Rev.  Dwight 
M.  Seward,  D.  D.,  February  12,  1858,  to  April  26,  1852  ;  Rev. 
Victor  M.  Hulbert,  D.  D.,  November  9,  1852,  to  September 
26,  1865  ;  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  December  10,  1865,  to  the 
present  time. 

The  present  consistory  of  the  church  is  as  follows : 


126  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ELDERS.  DEACONS. 

James  Stewart,  Charles  E.  See, 

Hyatt  L.  Garrison,  William  M.  Dick, 

Joseph  H.  Palmer,  Martin  Blauvelt, 

Virgil  Myers,  Lewis  H.  Wiggins, 

William  G.  Ackerman,  Walter  A.  Drinkwater, 

John  Pagan,  James  Kellock, 

George  Stewart,  Le  Grand  W.  Ketchum, 

Nathan  S.  King,  M.  D.  Alden  C.  Tompkins. 

The  church  has  a  Woman's  Missionary  Society,  which 
was  organized  in  April,  1875.  It  contributes  to  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions.  In  1890  it  contributed  $470  to  the  Home 
and  Foreign  fields.     The  present  officers  are  : 

Mrs.  David  Cole,  President.  Miss  Agnes  Mitchell,  Secretary.  . 

Mrs.  Nathan  King,  Vice-President.      Miss  Marion  Stewart,  Ass't  Sec. 
Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins,  Treasurer. 

The  church  has  also  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  organized 
in  1888. 

The  music  is  led  by  a  volunteer  choir  with  two  excep- 
tions— Miss  Evelyn  Neely,  soprano,  and  Miss  Dora  Costel- 
lo,  alto — of  from  eight  to  ten  voices. 

The  organist  and  choir  leader  for  twelve  years  has 
been  Professor  Edwin  Moore. 

Mr.  Isaac  N.  Barker  was  sexton  for  more  than  sixteen 
years.     The  present  sexton  is  Mr.  David  A.  Eddy. 

The  present  pulpit  Bible  was  presented  to  the  church 
April,  1868. 

The  communion  service  was  presented  to  the  church 
April  23,  1868,  by  the  members  of  the  congregation.  It 
was  an  offering  of  gratitude  to  God  on  the  twenty-fifth  an- 
niversary of  the  church.  It  is  a  very  costly  service  and 
consists  of  two  tankards,  four  goblets,  five  plates,  and  a 
baptismal  bowl. 

The  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  administered  at 
the  morning  service,  and  infant  baptism  at  the  evening  ser- 
vice, on  the  last  Sabbaths  of  January,  March,  May,  July, 
September,  and  November. 

ORDER  OF  BENEVOLENT  OFFERINGS. 

Last  Sabbath  in  May     -        -     Westchester  County  Bible  Society. 

Last  Sabbath  in  June Domestic  Missions. 

Last  Sabbath  in  July Widows'  Fund. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        12/ 

Last  Sabbath  in  August  .  .  .        .     Board  of  Education. 

Last  Sabbath  in  September  -  -  -     American  Tract  Society. 

Last  Sabbath  in  October  -  -  -  Disabled  Ministers'  P^und. 

Last  Sabbath  in  November  -  -  The  church  Sunday-school. 

Last  Sabbath  in  December  -  -  -        -     Poor  of  the  church. 

Last  Sabbath  in  January  -  -  -        Church  Building  Fund. 

Last  Sabbath  in  February  -  -  .     -        -        Foreign  Missions. 

Last  Sabbath  in  March  .  .  .        .     Poor  of  the  church. 

Last  Sabbath  in  April    -  -  -  The  church  Sunday-school. 

Note. — The  first  Sabbath  in  January  is  set  apart  as  "  Hospital  Sun- 
day." At  the  morning  service  of  that  day  all  the  cash  contributed  through 
the  collection  is  devoted  to  the  benefit  of  St.  John's  Riverside  Hospital  of 
this  city. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  exact  date  of  the  organization  of  this  school  can- 
not be  definitely  ascertained,  as  its  early  records  have 
unfortunately  been  lost.  It  was  probably  organized  in  the 
year  1842.  The  information  concerning  its  early  history, 
from  the  above-mentioned  date  until  the  year  1865,  has 
been  obtained  by  the  writer  from  correspondence  with  the 
pastors  of  the  church  and  from  others  who  have  been  con- 
nected with  this  Sunday-school. 

Anson  B.  Hoyt  gives  the  following  report  of  the  school 
when  it  was  held  in  the  "  Long  Room  :"  "  I  can  only  recall 
seven  teachers,  Duncan  Macfarlane,  Lemuel  W.  Wells, 
Samuel  Lawrence,  Miss  Sarah  Kniffin,  Miss  Mary  Bash- 
ford,  Miss  A.  Emeline  Hoyt,  and  myself.  There  were 
others,  I  think  about  a  dozen  in  all.  The  school  numbered 
about  fifty  scholars  and  the  singing  was  led  by  Mr.  Wm. 
Mann." 

In  a  letter  received  from  the  first  pastor  of  the  church, 
Rev.  Dr.  Hulbert,  the  following  facts  and  incidents  are 
given  of  the  school  under  his  pastorate  : 

"  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  September  iS,  1887. 

"  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirkwood — My  Dear  Friend :  Your 
communication  was  duly  received,  awakening  many  inter- 
esting memories  of  Yonkers.  *  '-  ""  I  am  very  much  grati- 
fied to  know  that  you  have  given  yourself  to  services  use- 
ful to  the  world.  ^  *  *  And  now,  in  seeking  to  write  up 
the  Sunday-school  history  of  Yonkers,  I  would  gladly  fur- 
nish any  useful  facts  within  my  knowledge.     But  I  fear  I 


128  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

cannot  render  you  any  important  service.  At  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Reformed 
Church  I  was  serving  two  churches,  Yonkers  and  Green- 
ville, eight  miles  distant.  My  morning  service  was  in 
Yonkers,  where  I  took  dinner  and  immediately  left  for 
Greenville.  The  Sunday-school  of  my  church  at  Yonkers 
held  its  sessions  afternoons  in  my  absence  at  Greenville,  so 
I  was  ignorant  of  its  operations  save  as  I  was  told.  Your 
most  authentic  information  on  the  early  history  of  the 
Refomed  Church  would  be  from  some  of  the  surviving 
members,  namely,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  and  others  I  cannot 
name.  The  school  may  have  been  organized  previous  to 
September  i,  1842,  when  I  became  the  first  pastor.  The 
exact  date  might  be  learned  from  the  record  books  kept  by 
the  Sunday-school. 

"  '  Who  organized  it  ?'  Probably  it  was  a  voluntary 
effort  of  members  in  council  such  as  Duncan  Macfarlane 
and  Mr.  Wells,  or  '  Farmer  Wells,'  as  he  was  called.  The 
first  superintendent  was  Lemuel  W.  Wells.  The  number 
of  scholars  I  do  not  know.  The  first  place  of  holding  the 
school  was  in  two  large  rooms  of  a  private  house  thrown 
together,  situated  on  Broadway  and  Main  Street.  For  the 
reason  of  my  not  being  present  at  the  sessions  of  the  school 
at  first  I  cannot  give  you  any  interesting  incident  of  its 
management. 

"  After  I  became  sole  pastor  of  the  one  church  at  Yon- 
kers I  identified  myself  closely  with  the  Sunday-school, 
teaching  the  children  their  tunes  and  also  teaching  a  Bible- 
class.  The  Sunday-school  of  the  Reformed  Church  of 
Yonkers  is  most  vividly  impressed  on  my  memory  from 
J  852  to  1865.  Dr.  G.  P.  Reevs  was  a  most  efficient  teacher 
of  Bible  truths.  My  eldest  daughter  became  a  Christian 
while  under  his  valuable  instruction,  and  always  felt  espe- 
cially grateful  to  him  for  his  clear  and  convincing  exposi- 
tion of  Romans,  causing  her  to  feel  solid  on  the  doctrine  of 
God's  sovereignty  with  great  comfort.  George  Radford,  a 
noble  young  man,  was  in  my  Bible-class.  He  was  fatally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburgh  in  the  late  civil 
war.  His  body  was  brought  home  and  I  preached  his 
funeral  sermon. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 29 

"  The  elder  David  Stewart  was  a  veteran  in  Church  and 
in  Sunday-school  work.* 

"  Our  annual  Sunday-school  picnics  were  institutions 
highly  enjoyed  by  all.  Our  Sunday-school  music  was  among 
the  most  interesting  and  profitable,  I  may  say,  of  our  ser- 
vices, running  in  the  ear  of  childhood  onward  to  old  age. 

"  I  am  an  old  man  now  and  nearly  seventy -four  years 
old,  but  among  the  pleasant  scenes  of  my  pastoral  life  the 
dear  Sunday-school  holds  a  prominent  place  in  my  memory. 
"  Sincerely  your  friend, 

"VICTOR  M.  HULBERT." 

Rev.  Dr.  Hulbert  was  a  very  fine  singer  and  took  great 
pleasure  in  cultivating  the  musical  talents  of  the  children 

*  The  following  interesting  incident  in  regard  to  Elder  David  Stewart, 
to  whom  Dr.  Hulbert  refers,  appeared  in  the  "  New  York  Observer  "  under 
the  signature  of  Louise  J.  Kirkwood  : 

"  On  a  bright  Sabbath  morning  by  the  side  of  a  country  road  running 
along  the  Hudson,  not  many  miles  from  New  York,  two  men  stood  talking 
together.  One  was  a  Judge  of  high  social  standing  and  legal  distinction, 
the  other  was  a  stone  mason,  and  their  conversation  was  about  the  build- 
ing of  a  new  wall  near  the  place  where  they  were  standing,  to  consult 
about  which  the  Judge  had  sent  for  the  mason  on  this  Sabbath  morning. 

"Just  coming  into  siglit  as  he  trudged  along  the  road  on  his  way  to 
church  was  a  plain  Scotch  farmer,  well  known  as  a  God-fearing,  Sabbath- 
keeping,  honest,  hard-working  man,  neither  fearing  nor  asking  favor  of  the 
great  or  rich.  His  chief  ambition  in  life  seemed  to  be  to  raise  a  large  fam- 
ily of  children  in  the  fear  of  God  and  honorably  in  the  sight  of  men,  which 
his  example  was  well  fitted  to  do. 

"  In  the  midst  of  an  animated  explanation  of  what  he  wanted  in  a  new 
wall,  the  Judge  caught  sight  of  the  farmer.  Stopping  suddenly  he  said, 
'  There  comes  David  Stewart ;  it  will  never  do  to  let  him  see  us  talking 
business  on  Sunday  morning.  We  will  just  step  behind  this  bit  of  wall 
until  he  passes.'  And  the  Judge  and  the  mason  crouched  down  behind  the 
wall  until  the  plodding  footsteps  of  the  farmer  echoed  faintly  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  the  good  man  passed  from  sight,  all  unconscious  of  the  silent 
reproof  his  appearance  had  caused ;  while  the  Judge  with  feelings,  one 
would  think,  belittling  to  his  manliness,  crept  from  his  hiding-place  to  con- 
tinue his  conscience-confessed  desecration  of  the  Lord's  day. 

"The  next  morning  the  incident  was  related  to  the  farmer  by  the  ma- 
son, who  was  himself  a  Scotchman,  though  unhappily  not  so  conscientious 
as  his  friend.     He  told  the  story  with  some  glee,  adding  : 

'*  Wha  wad  a  thot,  maun,  that  ye  had  sic  a  pooer  in  ye  as  to  mak  the 
Judge  hide  behint  the  wall  for  the  fear  o'  ye?' 

"  Is  not  this  incident  an  illustration  of  the  force  and  influence  of  a  sin- 
cere Christian  character,  and  was  it  not  a  silent  sermon  preached  by  this 
good  man  which  brought  home  to  the  Judge  the  conviction  of  his  sin  ?" 

Church  and  Sunday-school  Work.  Q 


130  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

in  his  Sunday-school  in  the  days  when  less  attention  than 
now  was  given  to  the  subject  of  Sunday-school  music. 

Rev.  Isaac  S.  Demund,  the  second  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  writes : 

"  RiDGEWOOD,  N.  J.,  December  21,  1887. 

"  Miss  A.  E.  Kirkwood  : — I  will  endeavor  to  answer 
your  inquiries  in  regard  to  the  Reformed  Church  Sunday- 
school  as  best  I  can.  The  teachers  who  taught  in  the 
school  under  my  pastorate  were  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Baird, 
Rev.  Wm.  C.  Foote,  Mr.  Ralph  Shipman,  Duncan  Macfar- 
lane,  Samuel  Barry,  Joseph  Jennings,  Charles  W.  Baird, 
Dr.  Levi  W.  Flagg-=^  and  his  brother  Ethan  Flagg.f    The 

*  In  the  springtime  of  the  year,  thirty-four  years  afterwards,  on  May 
19,  1884,  the  funeral  services  of  this  beloved  physician  were  held  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers,  of  which  church  he  was  one  of  the 
constituent  members.  The  spacious  audience-room  and  galleries  were 
filled  with  friends  from  all  ranks  of  society.  The  aged  and  the  young,  the 
fathers  and  mothers  and  the  little  children  to  whom  he  had  so  often  and  so 
kindly  ministered,  were  there  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  regard  to  their 
loved  and  honored  physician.  It  was  a  beautiful  contrast,  such  as  is  rarely 
seen  upon  earth,  the  testimony  of  the  rich  and  the  testimony  of  the  poor, 
their  tears  flowing  together,  each  with  a  sense  of  personal  loss. 

Rev.  John  Dixon,  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Yonkers,  offered  the  opening  prayer.  The  well-known  hymn,  "  Rock  of 
Ages,"  was  very  beautifully  and  tenderly  sung  by  William  C.  Baird.  Rev. 
John  Reid,  his  pastor,  said,  "  There  is  no  man  in  this  city  who  brought 
more  sunshine  into  the  homes  where  he  entered  than  our  departed  friend 
and  brother.  His  presence  was  as  bright  and  cheering  and  strengthening 
as  the  sunshine  in  the  sick-room,  inspiring  hope  and  courage  alike  to  his 
patients  and  their  attendants."  He  also  alluded  to  his  own  personal  expe- 
rience when  two  of  his  own  household  were  laid  low,  and  when  the  crisis 
of  the  disease  was  approaching  how  this  physician,  by  his  tones  and  man- 
ner, won  his  hearty  confidence,  and  his  tender,  intelligent,  and  delicate 
care  of  his  loved  ones  would  never  be  forgotten.  Speaking  of  his  religious 
experience,  his  pastor  said,  'The  last  time  I  called  to  see  him  it  was  with 
no  uncertain  words  that  he  told  me  on  whom  his  hopes  were  placed  for 
eternity.  There  was  a  tenderness  and  maturity  in  his  voice  that  told  vol- 
umes of  the  quietness  and  composure  and  readiness  of  his  spirit." 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  of  the  Reformed  Church  offered  the  last  prayer,  and  tlie 
services  were  closed  with  the  singing  of  Rev.  C.  Henri  Malan's  beautiful 
hymn, 

"  It  is  not  death  to  die, 

To  leave  this  weary  road, 
And  'mid  the  brotherhood  on  high 
To  be  at  home  with  God." 

t  Six  months  had  scarcely  elapsed  when  a  large  concourse  of  friends- 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        131 

former  took  charge  of  the  young  ladies'  Bible-class  and  the 
latter  had  a  few  young  men.  There  were  others  I  cannot 
now  recall.  The  school  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  Lemuel  Wells. 
There  was  a  small  infant  class.  The  teacher's  name  I  do 
not  recall. 

"I  was  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  from  1848  to 
1850.  I  was  eighty -four  years  old  last  May.  For  fifty 
years  and  more  it  has  been  my  part  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  faithfully  to  testify  to  the  truth,  whether  men  will 
hear  or  forbear.  Not  a  word,  not  a  promise,  spoken  by  our 
Lord  with  regard  to  what  he  has  revealed  shall  fall  to  the 
ground.  He  is  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world.  He  alone  can  save ;  he  alone  can  cover  the 
sins  that  have  been  committed  by  the  believer  with  his 
expiatory  blood.  He  alone  by  his  blood  can  wash  away  all 
our  stains,  making  us  whiter  than  snow.  He  alone  can 
save.  He  alone  can  baptize  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with 
fire. 

"  Affectionate  regards  to  yourself  and  Dr.  Cole, 

"ISAAC  S.  DEMUND." 

The  following  additional  names  of  teachers  and  schol- 
ars have  been  given  by  Janet  Stewart,  a  former  pupil,  and 
daughter  of  Elder  David  Stewart  (now  Mrs.  Samuel  B.  Stil- 
well,  of  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.),  who  were  in  the  Sunday- 
school  under  Rev.  Mr.  Demund's  pastorate  :  James  Nodine, 
Samuel  Rockwell,  Edward  Hunt,  and  Sarah  Keeler.  The 
school  numbered  from  150  to  175  pupils. 

The  Sunday-school  continued  to  meet  in  the  "  Long 
Room "  until  the  completion  of  the  church  in  August, 
1845.  The  first  service  in  the  new  church  was  held  Sun- 
gathered  again  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  to  attend  the  funeral  ser- 
vices of  Ethan  Flagg,  which  were  conducted  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  John  Reid, 
assisted  by  Rev.  D.  M.  Seward,  D.  D.,  a  former  pastor  of  the  church.  The 
same  beautiful  hymns  were  sung  as  at  the  funeral  of  his  brother,  Levi  W. 
Flagg,  M.  D.  Tender  and  appreciative  words  were  spoken  by  his  pastor 
of  the  worth  of  his  Christian  character  and  of  his  far-reaching  usefulness 
as  a  citizen  of  Yonkers.  Then  his  bereaved  kindred  bore  the  remains  of 
their  loved  one  with  calm  trust  to  a  consecrated  grave  made  thus  by  the 
crucified  and  risen  Saviour  who  had  abolished  "  death  and  hath  brought 
life  and  immortality  to  light  in  the  gospel."  These  brothers  were  "lovely 
and  pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in  death  they  were  not  divided." 


132  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

day  morning,  August  24,  and  probably  the  first  session  of 
the  Sunday-school  in  the  new  church  was  held  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  above-mentioned  date.  It  continued  to  meet 
in  the  audience-room  of  the  church  until  the  completion  of 
the  lecture-room  in  the  basement  of  the  church,  about  the 
latter  part  of  the  month  of  June,  1854. 

Miss  Anna  C.  Cantrell  gives  reminiscences  of  the  Sun- 
day-school during  her  connection  with  it. 

"Washington,  D.  C,  April  23,  18S8. 

"  My  Dear  Miss  Kirkwood  :— Mr.  Charles  W.  Baird 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  in  the  church  in 
the  village — ^the  one  near  Dr.  Flagg's  old  home.  There  is 
no  doubt  about  that.  But  I  think  the  church  was  then 
called  the  Dutch  Reformed.  I  remember  perfectly  a  beau- 
tiful little  address  which  Mr.  Baird  made  in  rearranging 
the  seats  in  the  Sunday-school.  The  older  classes  occupied 
the  front  seats  and  he  wished  to  put  the  children  there,  so 
that  he  might  the  more  easily  address  the  school  as  'my 
dear  children.'  I  remember  the  very  tones  that  voiced 
his  loving  Christian  heart  and  the  glow  that  lighted 
his  beautiful  and  spiritual  face  as  he  spoke  the  simple 
words. 

"  Mr.  Wells  was  superintendent  before  this.  The  Sun- 
day-school once  met  in  the  old  Manor  Hall  when  the  Wells 
family  lived  there.  I  was  a  pupil  at  the  time,  and  Mr. 
Wells  used  to  take  me  in  his  arms  as  one  of  the  '  little 
ones.' 

"  Very  sincerely  yours, 

"ANNA  C.  CANTRELL." 

This  beloved  superintendent  afterwards  studied  for 
the  ministry  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New 
York.  He  was  graduated  in  1852,  and  was  licensed  to  the 
ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  In  1853 
he  was  ordained  by  the  same  body.  From  1852  to  1854  he 
was  chaplain  of  the  American  Chapel  at  Rome,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  For  some  time  after  his  return  to 
this  country  he  was  engaged  in  study  and  in  ministering 
for  one  or  two  years  to  a  church  in  Brooklyn.  In  the 
spring  of  1861  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Rye,  where  he  remained  the  faithful  and 


THE   REFORMED    CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 33 

greatly  beloved  pastor  until  the  relation  was  dissolved  by 
his  death,  February  10,  1887. 

Rev.  Mr.  Baird  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  his 
alma  mater  in  1876. 

The  memory  of  Dr.  Baird  as  a  scholar  will  be  perpetu- 
ated by  his  published  works,  prominent  of  which  is  his 
"  History  of  the  Huguenot  Emigration  to  America." 

"  It  would  be  difficult  adequately  to  portray  in  words 
the  graces  of  his  character  as  they  will  be  remembered  and 
cherished  by  his  friends,  the  people  of  his  charge,  his  asso- 
ciates in  the  ministry,  and  indeed  by  all  who  knew  him 
personally.  He  was  a  man  of  transparent  purity  and  sim- 
plicity of  heart,  dignified,  polished,  and  gentle  in  his  man- 
ners, almost  singularly  modest  in  spirit  and  in  all  his  de- 
portment. He  was  one  to  whom  we  may  truthfully  apply 
the  words  of  our  Lord  in  the  sense  in  which  they  were 
originally  uttered,  '  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.'  He 
was  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  work  which  God  had  given 
him  to  do,  making  full  proof  of  his  ministry,  and  at  the 
end  exemplifying  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life  by  responding 
to  the  summons  which  called  him  away.  '  You  know  that 
I  am  ready,'  were  among  the  last  words  he  uttered." 

Through  the  suggestion  of  the  librarian  of  the  school, 
John  Berwick,  a  printed  catalogue  of  the  library  was  first 
made  in  1854.  Mr.  Berwick  prepared  it  for  publication 
and  efficiently  served  the  school  as  its  librarian  for  three 
years. 

Anson  B.  Hoyt  was  one  of  the  early  superintendents, 
and  a  very  popular  one,  as  was  shown  by  his  being  elected 
to  the  office  four  times.  In  the  year  1862-3,  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  he  resigned  his  position  as  superin- 
tendent and  became  Chaplain  of  a  regiment  in  the  army, 

Gustavus  A.  Rollins  was  one  of  the  superintendents  of 
this  school  when  it  met  in  the  basement  of  the  church  in 
i860.  Special  attention  was  given  by  the  school  at  that 
time  to  the  committal  of  Bible  verses,  and  Mr.  Rollins 
offered  rewards  for  the  committal  of  the  catechism.  The 
Heidelberg  Catechism  was  taught  in  several  of  the  largest 
classes. 

Large  portions  of  the  Bible  were  committed  to  mem- 


134  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ory  by  the  pupils.  The  interest  taken  in  this  important 
feature  of  Sunday-school  work  was  doubtless  owing  in  a 
great  degree  to  the  special  interest  which  was  manifested 
by  the  superintendent.  Mr.  Rollins  was  very  exact  in  en- 
forcing the  rule  of  punctual  attendance  of  both  teachers 
and  scholars,  scarcely  varying  if  ever  a  minute  from  the 
time  appointed  to  open  and  close  the  school.  For  the 
strict  observance  of  this  rule  he  won  the  sobriquet  of  the 
"  minute  man  "  among  the  delinquent  teachers. 

John  K.  Myers  taught  a  class  of  young  ladies  in  the 
Reformed  Sunday-school  when  it  was  held  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  church.  He  was  a  very  efficient  and  instruct- 
ive teacher.  His  talent  for  locating  incidents  in  Bible 
history  and  illuminating  and  elucidating  Scripture  truths 
is  well  remembered  by  those  privileged  to  be  under  his 
instruction,  nearly  all  of  whom  united  with  the  church 
while  under  his  charge,  the  writer  being  among  the  num- 
ber, and  by  whom  he  is  held  in  affectionate  and  grateful 
remembrance.  He  always  manifested  a  kindly  interest  in 
all  that  interested  the  members  of  his  class  (some  of  whom 
were  preparing  to  become  teachers),  especially  in  their 
acquisition  of  knowledge. 

In  1856  Joseph  H.  Palmer  was  acting  superintendent 
for  a  brief  period.  In  i860  he  was  assistant  superintend- 
ent. In  1 86 1  Mr.  Palmer  was  elected  superintendent,  and 
served  until  1866. 

The  attendance  of  the  school  during  that  period  was 
large,  several  Bible-classes  were  held  in  the  church,  and 
the  infant  class  in  the  gallery. 

Mr.  Palmer,  while  acting  secretary  in  1875,  had  super- 
vision of  the  infant  class  also. 

The  school  met  in  the  basement  of  the  church  till  the 
new  chapel  adjoining  the  church  was  dedicated  in  Novem- 
ber, 1868.  In  that  year  the  average  attendance  of  the 
school  was  1 20.  The  teachers  who  taught  in  the  basement 
of  the  church  and  who  with  the  school  entered  the  new 
chapel  were :  Walter  A.  Underbill,  Superintendent,  David 
Stewart,  Sr.,  Gustavus  A.  Rollins,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  Joseph 
H.  Palmer,  Hyatt  L.  Garrison,  Dr.  Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  James 
Stewart,  Philip  A.  Deyo,  George  Stewart,  Alexander  Dick- 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 35 

son,  Augustus  C.  Bechstein,  Ralph  E.  Prime,  Mrs,  Abra- 
ham Fredenburgh,  Mrs.  William  A.  Drinkwater,  Mrs.  Ja- 
cob D.  Wood,  Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins,  Miss  Adelia  Emeline 
Hoyt,  ]Miss  Catherine  S.  Williams,  Miss  Julia  C.  Pratt  (now 
Mrs.  Dr.  Hocking),  Miss  Josephine  F.  Disbrow,  Miss  Sarah 
L.  Disbrow,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Beebe,  Miss  Hulda  Radford  (now 
Mrs.  William  Welsh),  Miss  Mary  Berwick,  Miss  Lizzie  Ber- 
wick (now  Mrs.  James  Montgomery),  Miss  Isabella  Berwick 
(now  Mrs.  Henry  V.  Clark),  Miss  Cornelia  S.  Stilwell  (now 
Mrs.  Charles  F.  Hulbert),  Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Collins,  and 
Miss  Victoria  Morrison. 

In  May,  1869,  the  school  was  under  the  superintend- 
ency  of  Dr.  G.  P.  Reevs  and  of  his  assistant,  Augustus 
Bechstein,  and  was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition.  The 
chapel  was  more  than  filled  by  scholars,  so  that  several 
classes  were  obliged  to  meet  in  the  audience-room  of  the 
church.  A  half -hour's  teachers'  prayer-meeting  was  held 
after  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  school,  which  was  most 
delightful  and  profitable  to  all  who  participated  in  it.  It 
was  also  fruitful  in  its  results,  cultivating  not  only  a  pleas- 
ant social  feeling  among  the  teachers,  but  a  devotional  spirit 
alike  in  teachers  and  the  larger  scholars  of  the  school.  A 
weekly  teachers'  meeting  was  also  held,  which  was  well 
attended.  The  contributions  of  the  school  for  benevolent 
objects  were  large.  The  school  maintained  at  that  time  a 
Bible  reader  in  the  foreign  mission  field.  It  numbered 
475  pupils. 

From  a  very  comprehensive  annual  report  presented 
by  Secretary  Joseph  H.  Palmer  in  April,  1875,  ^^®  gleaned 
the  following  statistics :  James  Stewart,  Superintendent. 
Officers  and  teachers,  39 ;  number  of  classes,  32  ;  Infant- 
class  enrolment,  121  ;  total  average  attendance  of  pupils, 
195  ;  largest  attendance,  230;  added  to  the  communion  of 
the  church  on  confession  of  faith,  37 ;  deaths,  two  pupils 
and  one  teacher.  Miss  Mary  Reevs;  volumes  in  library, 
680;  receipts,  $303  94;  expenditures,  $295  58. 

The  secretary  concludes  his  report  as  follows  : 

"  A  large  Bible-class,  embracing  about  forty  different 
members,  is  taught  in  the  chapel  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Dr. 
Cole,  every  Thursday  afternoon.     It  is  composed  of  Sun- 


136  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

day-school  teachers  and  scholars  and  others  who  chiefly 
attend  the  church  services.  It  is  indirectly  a  preparation 
for  the  Sunday-school  work  and  one  of  the  most  important 
branches. 

"  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  the 
promptness  and  cheerfulness  of  all  the  Sunday-school  offi- 
cers in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 

"  The  efficiency  and  growth  of  the  school  are  chiefly 
due  to  the  teachers." 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  this  Sunday- 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  December,  1876:  Officers,  7; 
teachers,  36 ;  scholars  on  register,  370  ;  average  attendance, 
203;  largest  attendance,  267;  number  in  Infant-class,  120; 
conversions,  13  ;  deaths,  3  ;  volumes  in  library,  685  ;  receipts, 
$657  94  ;  expenditures,  $588  25. 

Its  officers  are  :  James  Stewart,  Superintendent ;  Hyatt 
L.  Garrison,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  Joseph  H.  Palmer, 
Secretary ;  Martin  Blauvelt,  Assistant  Secretary ;  Edward 
Garrison,  Treasurer ;  Nelson  Ackert,  Librarian ;  Garret 
Rose,  Assistant  Librarian.  The  teachers  are :  Miss  Mary 
Berwick,  Miss  Cornelia  Stilwell,  Miss  Anna  Schryver,  Miss 
Helen  Rollins,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Beebe,  Miss  J.  Dickson,  Miss 
Marion  Stewart,  Miss  Emma  Smith,  Miss  Hulda  Radford, 
Miss  Anna  Palmer,  Miss  Emma  Radford,  Mrs.  Warren,  Miss 
G.  Stewart,  Miss  Emma  Peene,  Miss  Hattie  Spear,  Mrs. 
Fredenburgh,  Miss  Emeline  Hoyt,  Miss  S.  Hoyt,  JNIiss  K. 
Huestis,  Miss  L.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Collins,  Messrs. 
Benjamin  Warren  Stillwell,  Bethune  Reevs,  C.  Underbill, 
Adolphus  Rollins,  S.  S.  Craine,  Edward  Garrison,  Alexan- 
der Dickson,  J.  Pruyn,  Dr.  G.  P.  Reevs,  Anson  B.  Hoyt, 
Walter  Underbill,  George  Stewart,  J.  B.  Silkman,  and 
Hyatt  L.  Garrison. 

The  officers  of  the  school  in  April,  1 877,  were :  George 
Stewart,  Superintendent ;  Martin  Blauvelt,  Secretary  ;  Rob- 
ert Stewart,  Assistant  Secretary  ;  George  Poucher,  Treas- 
urer ;  Nelson  Ackert,  Librarian ;  and  Isaac  D.  Cole,  Assist- 
ant Librarian. 

This  school  was  the  first  in  Yonkers  to  introduce  the 
annual  summer  excursion  by  steamboat,  now  adopted  by 
so  many  of  our  Sunday-schools.     It  has  given  its  pupils  an 


THE   REFORMED    CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 37 

excursion  each  summer  for  over  thirty  years.  The  excur- 
sion in  early  days  was  a  leading  event  of  the  year,  and 
was  looked  forward  to  by  parents  and  children  with  eager 
expectation.  This  school  was  alone  in  the  practice  for 
more  than  fifteen  years.  Probably  the  first  Sunday-school 
picnic  in  Yonkers  was  held  by  this  school.  It  was  held  at 
Glenwood  on  the  grounds  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of 
James  B.  Colgate. 

Miss  Mary  Berwick,  then  a  pupil  in  the  school,  recalls 
the  pleasurable  time  spent  by  the  school  there,  and  makes 
mention  of  the  big  swing  constructed  from  a  huge  grape- 
vine which  was  entwined  around  one  of  the  large  forest- 
trees  and  afforded  amusement  for  old  and  young,  and  the 
generous  hospitality  of  the  superintendent,  Joseph  H.  Jen- 
nings, who  welcomed  them  to  the  grounds  and  who  provi- 
ded a  large  part  of  the  refreshments  for  the  occasion. 

The  picnic  at  West  Point,  x\ugust,  1 867,  is  recalled  as 
being  an  unusually  delightful  occasion. 

Superintendent  Joseph  H.  Palmer  introduced  religious 
exercises  in  connection  with  these  excursions,  prayer  being 
offered  before  leaving  the  Sunday-school,  and  the  singing 
of  Sunday-school  songs  while  at  the  groves. 

"  A  very  considerable  change  was  produced  in  the 
number  of  pupils  of  this  school  in  the  year  1882  by  chan- 
ging the  hour  of  meeting  from  afternoon  to  the  morning. 
This  changed  the  character  of  the  school,  making  it  less  of 
a  mission  and  more  of  a  church  school.  The  school  lost  in 
numbers  by  the  step,  but  improved  by  making  its  aims 
more  definite.  After  a  time  it  began  to  increase  in  num- 
bers, and  the  wisdom  of  the  course  became  apparent  in  the 
increased  solidity  of  the  school." 

Miss  Kate  S.  Williams,  Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Collins,  and 
Miss  S.  J.  Beebe  were  most  zealous,  devoted,  and  success- 
ful teachers  in  this  school.  These  three  beloved  teachers 
have  entered  into  the  rest  that  remaineth.  "  And  I  heard 
a  voice  from  heaven  saying.  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead 
which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ;  yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  for  their  works 
follow  with  them." 

"  In  1883  the  Association  character  of  the  school,  which 


138  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

had  been  maintained  from  the  beginning,  was  changed.  It 
was  by  a  vote  of  the  officers  and  teachers  distinctly  placed 
in  the  care  of  the  Consistory.  This  had  always  been  its 
theory  but  not  its  practice.  Now  the  Consistory  were 
directly  asked  to  assume  the  care  of  it,  to  appoint  a  Stand- 
ing Committee  on  Sunday-school  supervision,  and  even  to 
appoint  and  annually  reappoint  its  officers.  This  origina- 
ted as  to  suggestion  with  Dr.  Cole,  the  pastor,  but  as  to  act 
with  the  school  itself.  The  application  was  made  to  the 
Consistory  January  23,  1883,  and  at  once  granted.  From 
that  time  the  school  ceased  to  be  an  Association,  and  has 
been  the  church  school.  No  change  has  since  been  made 
in  its  arrangement  except  that,  for  the  relief  of  what  on 
working  proved  a  difficulty,  the  Consistory  returned  to 
the  school  again  the  right  to  choose  its  own  officers  annu- 
ally. The  relation  between  the  Consistory  and  the  school 
under  the  arrangement  as  now  carried  on  seems  to  be  per- 
fect. It  conforms  to  the  governmental  system  of  the  Re. 
formed  Church  and  establishes  organic  connection  between 
the  school  and  the  church  of  which  it  is  a  part." 

The  Christmas  festivals  have  always  been  occasions  of 
great  delight  to  the  teachers  and  scholars,  that  of  1881 
being  of  an  unusually  interesting  character.  The  church 
was  filled  with  the  children  and  friends  of  the  school. 

Rev.  Dr.  Lansing,  the  prince  of  children's  speakers, 
addressed  them.  The  recitation  in  concert  of  the  twenty- 
third  Psalm  by  the  infant-class  and  a  "  Missionary  Solilo- 
quy "  by  five  little  girls  were  excellent.  The  Christmas 
carols  were  very  beautiful  and  the  singing  was  good.  The 
young  people  and  children  acquitted  themselves  admirably 
in  all  the  exercises.  The  pupils  were  presented  with  hand- 
some books.  The  teachers  and  scholars  gave  a  beautifully 
bound  copy  of  Matthew  Henry's  Commentary,  which,  with 
other  valuable  books — the  gift  of  the  pastor — were  sent  to 
their  Bible-reader  in  India.  Hyatt  L.  Garrison  was  the 
superintendent  of  the  school  that  year,  and  great  success 
and  prosperity  attended  it  in  every  department. 

The  Christmas  celebration  of  1888  was  of  an  interest- 
ing character.  The  carols  were  beautiful,  and  the  teachers 
and  pupils  received  a  variety  of  handsome  presents.     Spe- 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        1 39 

cial  gifts  were  given  to  thirty-nine  pupils  who  had  been 
present  at  every  session  of  the  school  during  the  past  year. 
Rev.  H.  B.  Grose  delivered  an  address  which  was  pleasing 
and  profitable  to  both  old  and  young. 

Children's  Day  is  observed  in  this  school  with  appro- 
priate services,  the  pastor  usually  addressing  the  children. 

The  exercises  in  the  school  on  Children's  Day,  June  17, 
1889,  were  held  in  the  church  on  Sunday  evening.  The 
teachers  and  scholars  marched  from  the  chapel  into  the 
church,  keeping  step  to  the  organ  voluntary  played  by  Ed- 
win Moore. 

The  services  were  opened  by  the  singing  of  the  hymn, 
"  To  praise  Thee,  ever  bounteous  Lord,"  followed  by  prayer. 
The  congregation  participated  with  the  school  in  the  hymns 
and  responsive  readings  which  followed. 

Misses  Marion  de  Revere,  Bessie  Osborne,  Annie 
Odell,  and  Mabel  Doren  gave  appropriate  recitations.  The 
chorus  and  semi-chorus,  "  Dear  little  Pansy,"  was  very 
sweetly  sung  by  the  Primary  Department,  as  was  also  the 
"  Motion  Chorus."  The  duet,  quartette,  and  chorus,  "  There 
is  Joy  in  every  Sunbeam,"  was  beautifully  rendered  by  sev- 
eral of  the  members  of  the  advanced  Bible-classes. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  followed  with  brief  congratulatory  re- 
marks, closing  with  a  well-deserved  commendation  to  the 
little  ones  of  the  Primary  Department  for  their  excellent 
attention  and  good  behavior  throughout  the  exercises  of 
the  extremely  warm  evening.  The  meeting  closed  with 
the  chorus,  "  Thanks  to  God." 

At  the  Christmas  festival  in  1889  the  church  was  crowd- 
ed with  the  Sunday-school  pupils  and  their  friends  when 
the  exercises  began  at  half-past  seven  o'clock.  Superin- 
tendent Charles  E.  See  presided.  Excellent  singing  by  the 
school  was  the  principal  contribution  of  that  body  to  the 
entertainment. 

An  address  by  Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge  was  very 
appropriate  and  very  interesting;  and  brief  addresses  by 
the  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  and  by  the  former  superintend- 
ent, C.  F.  Tietjen,  were  also  made. 

A  number  of  scholars  who  had  not  been  absent  from 
school  during  the   year    received   handsome   books,   and 


140  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

books  were  given  also  to  some  who  had  missed  through 
sickness,  only  one  Sabbath. 

The  Primary  Department  was  formerly  divided  into 
small  classes,  Miss  Caroline  Radford  and  Miss  Rachel 
Waring  at  one  time  in  charge  of  it.  Miss  Lizzie  Berwick 
(now  Mrs.  James  Montgomery)  also  served  as  its  superin- 
tendent, having  one  assistant.  It  then  numbered  between 
forty  and  fifty  pupils.  During  the  session  of  the  large 
school,  it  met  in  the  audience-room  of  the  church,  assem- 
bling with  the  school  only  at  the  opening  and  closing  exer- 
cises. 

Mr,  George  Stewart  superintended  this  department 
from  1 87 1  until  May,  1888.  His  unceasing  fidelity  and 
devotion  kept  the  class  always  steady  and  regular  in  its 
attendance  and  solid  in  its  progress.  The  affection  of  its 
teacher  for  the  class  was  earnest,  and  the  class  returned 
it  heartily.  The  groundwork  of  the  school  is  done  in  this 
class.  The  children  committed  Bible  verses,  catechism 
questions,  and  many  familiar  hymns.  The  class  numbered 
about  sixty.  Mr.  Stewart  was  assisted  by  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bethune  Reevs. 

At  this  time,  January,  1891,  Miss  Marion  Stewart  is 
the  superintendent.  She  is  assisted  by  her  sister,  Mary  E. 
Stewart.  They  have  been  in  charge  since  May,  1888,  and 
are  devoted  to  their  work  and  very  successful  in  it.  They 
celebrated  the  reopening  of  their  class  in  September,  1889, 
with  the  presentation  of  beautiful  bouquets  of  foliage  plant 
leaves  and  gay  autumn  flowers  to  each  member  of  the  de- 
partment. The  children  were  highly  delighted  with  these 
gifts. 

The  enrolment  is  about  seventy  pupils,  with  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  fifty.  The  International  Series  of  les- 
sons is  taught.  The  paper  distributed  is  the  "  Sunbeam." 
The  collections  are  given  to  the  general  fund  of  the  school. 
The  singing  book  used  is  "  Infant  vSongs." 

The  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  connected  with  this 
church  was  organized  April  15,  1887,  with  forty  members, 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  members  of  the  Sunday-school. 
The  pastor,  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  William  M.  Dick,  Wal- 
ter A.  Drinkwater,  Le  Grand  W.  Ketcham,  Miss  Anna  M. 


THE   REFORMED    CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        141 

Palmer,  and  ]SIiss  Jennie  R.  Doren  were  appointed  to  pre- 
pare a  constitution,  which  was  adopted.  "  The  object  of 
this  society  is  to  promote  an  earnest  Christian  life  among 
its  members  and  to  make  them  more  useful  in  the  service 
of  God."  In  addition  to  its  regular  prayer-meeting,  which 
is  held  every  Sabbath,  once  in  a  month  a  consecration 
meeting  is  held.  At  this  meeting  it  is  expected  that  the 
active  members  shall  in  some  way  orally  testify  concerning 
his  or  her  own  progress  in  the  Christian  life.  There  are 
also  several  standing  committees,  such  as  the  lookout, 
prayer-meeting,  and  social  committees,  etc.  This  organiza- 
tion is  a  source  of  great  power  to  the  church  and  is  devel- 
oping a  strong  service  and  character  in  the  young  people 
of  the  church  and  Sunday-school.  Young  people  must  be 
members  of  the  church  before  they  can  be  received  into 
active  membership  in  this  society. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  has  always  been  closely  identified  with 
the  Sunday-school,  and  rarely  fails  to  be  present  either  at 
its  opening  or  closing  exercises,  not  infrequently  taking 
the  place  of  an  absent  teacher.  A  warm  attachment  exists 
between  him  and  the  members  of  the  school  and  the  young 
people  of  his  church,  which  found  expression  in  their  propo- 
sition to  send  him  and  iSIrs.  Cole  on  their  recent  European 
tour.  This  desire  was  heartily  seconded  by  all  the  mem- 
bers of  his  church  and  congregation,  who  aided  them  finan- 
cially in  carrying  out  this  plan.  Their  departure  from 
America  was  made  on  July  9,  1887,  in  the  steamer  "  Um- 
bria."  They  travelled  by  sea  and  land  12,000  miles,  and  vis- 
ited Ireland,  Scotland,  England,  Holland,  Belgium,  France, 
Germany,  Switzerland,  and  Italy,  and  visited  at  all  but 
eight  of  the  capitals  of  Europe. 

The  services  in  the  church  on  Sunday  previous  to  the 
departure  of  Dr.  Cole  on  his  European  trip  were  unusually 
interesting,  and  his  remarks  were  chiefly  in  reference 
thereto.  The  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  present. 
Rev.  Dr.  Cole  closed  his  remarks  with  an  earnest  and  im- 
pressive charge  to  the  young  people  to  be  faithful  and  true 
to  their  society,  to  each  other,  to  continue  to  read  and  study 
the  Word  of  God,  to  pray  for  one  another,  and  so  to  live 
that  others  should  take  knowledge  of  them  that  they  had 


142  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

been  with  Jesus.  Preceding  the  services  the  ordinance  of 
baptism  was  administered  to  two  infants — Anna  May  Dick 
and  Florence  Estelle  Drinkwater. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  on  their  return  received  a  most 
hearty  welcome  by  the  members  of  the  home  and  mission 
Sunday-schools,  the  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  and  the 
congregation. 

A  pleasant  reception  was  prepared  by  the  society  on 
Friday  evening,  October  26,  1887.  Under  the  skilful  and 
tasteful  direction  of  the  Decorating  Committee  the  chapel 
of  the  church  presented  a  beautiful  appearance. 

Letters  of  welcome  were  read  from  Rev.  Dr.  Stro- 
bridge.  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  and  Rev.  E.  C.  Moore.  Brief 
addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  C.  W.  Millard,  Rev.  J.  H, 
Bertholf,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Cole,  and  Alexander  O.  Kirk- 
wood. 

Dr.  Cole  responded  to  all  these  tender  and  warm  words 
of  welcome  from  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  with  much 
feeling  and  appreciation,  after  which  refreshments  were 
served  in  great  abundance.  So  with  music  and  song  and 
social  chat  the  hours  passed  all  too  quickly,  but  they  will 
be  held  in  pleasant  remembrance  by  all  who  enjoyed 
them. 

In  the  home  school  on  Sunday,  October  28,  1887,  the 
exercises  began  at  9 :  45  in  the  morning,  the  superintendent, 
Christian  Tietjen,  promptly  to  the  minute  announcing  the 
opening  hymn,  entitled  "Our  Morning  Prayer." 

At  the  close  of  the  lesson  for  the  day,  Superintendent 
Tietjen  made  some  very  happy  remarks  in  relation  to  Dr. 
Cole's  return,  and  in  closing  said,  "  When  he  enters  that 
door  this  morning,  which  I  hope  he  will,  I  want  you  all  to 
rise  and  sing  '  Welcome  Home '  from  your  hymn-book. 
And  I  know  you  will  sing  it  heartily." 

At  this  moment  Dr.  Cole  entered  the  room,  not  from 
the  side  door  leading  into  the  church,  as  he  was  wont  to 
come,  nor  from  the  door  at  the  entrance,  as  he  sometimes 
came,  but  quite  unexpectedly  to  all  through  the  door  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs  leading  into  the  basement,  where  he  had 
been  saying  a  few  words  of  greeting  to  the  infant-class. 
Unexpected  as  this  was  the  school  at  once  arose,  and  the 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         I43 

organist,  Edwin  Moore,  led  them  in  singing  their  "Wel- 
come Home."     The  scene  was  very  impressive. 

At  the  close  Dr.  Cole  rose  and,  hesitating  for  a  mo- 
ment, said,  "  I  feel  overcome  by  the  profuse  welcomes  you 
have  given  me.  I  cannot  command  my  voice  ;  no  language 
can  express  my  feelings.  I  thank  you  a  thousand  times 
for  this  bright  and  cheery  welcome  you  have  given  me.  It 
prepares  me  for  my  future  work  for  you.  When  I  left  you 
it  was  with  some  anxiety.  I  feared  that  the  chain  of 
thought  and  feeling  might  be  lost  in  your  contact  with  the 
world  and  the  new  circumstances  which  would  be  before 
you.  You  know  we  had  just  come  from  the  delightful 
atmosphere  with  which  the  church  and  school  had  been 
surrounded  for  the  past  few  months,  for  the  silent  and  all- 
powerful  influence  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  was  working  in  our 
church  and  school.  But  the  warm  welcome  which  I  have 
received  from  you  makes  me  feel  that  it  has  not  been  so. 
Perhaps  some  of  you  will  greet  me  with  a  still  warmer  wel- 
come, that  some  of  you  will  come  forward  and  tell  me  how 
you  have  found  the  Saviour  since  I  have  been  away.  Since 
I  left  you  I  have  seen  many  forms  of  religion  in  the  differ- 
ent countries  I  have  visited,  of  which  I  will  tell  you  at  an- 
other time.  Do  you  know  that  your  privileges  are  far 
greater  than  many  others  enjoy?  And  for  that  reason 
your  responsibility  is  far  greater.  Avail  yourselves  of  these 
precious  opportunities,  and  may  the  dear  Lord  pour  his  own 
bountiful  blessing  upon  this  Sunday-school." 

The  closing  hymn,  "Working  for  Christ,"  was  then 
sung  and  the  school  dismissed. 

tn  the  church  the  morning  service  began  by  singing 
"  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow."  The  107th 
Psalm  was  then  read,  followed  by  the  hymn,  "  While  Thee 
I  seek,  protecting  Power."  Dr.  Cole  offered  an  earnest 
prayer,  full  of  thanksgiving  for  past  and  present  blessings. 

The  sermon  was  from  these  words,  "  Believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Acts  16:31.  The  preacher  com- 
menced by  expressing  profound  gratitude  to  God  for  pre- 
serving himself  and  wife  from  dangers  by  sea  and  land 
and  throughout  their  journey  of  more  than  12,000  miles 
without  abatement  of  health,  and  for  bringing  them  safely 


144  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

to  their  Yonkers  home.  "  As  our  brave  ship  on  her  home- 
ward journey  was  battling  with  the  tempest  we  felt  that  we 
were  borne  up  by  the  prayers  of  God's  dear  people,  and  the 
knowledge  of  this  came  to  us  as  we  journeyed  along  through 
the  week  and  on  the  Sabbath  day  as  we  rested.  And  we 
desire,  Mrs.  Cole  and  myself,  to  put  on  record  our  deep  and 
profound  gratitude,  first  to  God  for  his  tender  care,  and 
next  to  our  dear  people  for  their  loving  prayers." 

Dr.  Cole  then  spoke  of  the  deaths  which  had  occurred 
in  the  congregation  since  his  absence,  those  of  Robert  Hal- 
ley,  Mrs.  William  Kellogg,  esteemed  members  of  the  church, 
and  another  member  of  his  congregation,  and  of  the  three 
little  infants  who  had  been  taken  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  He  also  mentioned  his  intention  of  giving  a 
course  of  lectures  to  the  members  of  the  Society  of  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  on  the  countries  he  had  visited,  and  conclu- 
ded by  speaking  of  the  appropriateness  of  God's  saving 
plan  of  salvation  for  a  lost  world. 

Rev.  J.  Henry  Bertholf  preached  in  the  church  in  the 
evening  to  a  large  audience,  in  which  the  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  represented  by  its  offi- 
cers and  members. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  delivered  a"  series  of  lectures  in  the 
Reformed  Church,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Peo- 
ple's Society  of  Christian  Endeavor, upon  the  cities  of  Lon- 
don, Edinburgh,  Paris,  and  Rome.  They  were  illustrated 
with  stereopticon  views  by  George  D.  Mackay,  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Miss  Jennie  R.  Doren,  Miss  Marion  Stewart,  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Bragdon,  Miss  Mamie  Costello,  Miss  Phoebe"  Pal- 
mer, Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  William  M.  Dick,  William  A. 
Wiggins,  and  A.  C.  Tompkins  attended  the  convention  of 
sister  societies  in  Philadelphia  in  1889  as  delegates  from 
the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  the  Yonkers  Reformed 
Church. 

The  present  membership  of  the  society  is  eighty-five. 

President Mr.  W.  A.  Wiggins. 

Vice-President Miss  Phoebe  Palmer. 

Secretary Miss  Mary  E.  Stewart. 

Treasurer Miss  Edith  A.  Doren. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        145 

CHAIRMEN  OF  COMMITTEES. 

Lookout  Committee  -  -  Miss  Marion  Stewart. 

Prayer-meeting  "  -  -  Mr.  John  P.  Radcliff,  Jr. 

Social  "  -  -  Mr.  W.  A.  Drink  water. 

Music  and  Flower  "  -  -  Charles  F.  Walters. 

The  Mission  Band  of  this  school  was  begun  by  a  class 
of  little  girls  taught  by  Miss  Grace  Stewart  (now  Mrs.  John 
W.  Alexander),  It  contributed  towards  the  missionary 
fund  of  the  church  and  also  made  its  president,  Miss  Stew- 
art, a  life  member  of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Missions  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  After  the  resignation  of  its  president 
it  was  disbanded  for  a  time,  but  was  reorganized  by  Mrs. 
Thomas  Lyall  in  1883,  who  gave  it  the  name  of  "Joy 
Bells,"  Its  officers  were:  Mrs,  C.  F,  Tietjen,  President; 
Mrs,  Thomas  Lyall,  Vice-President ;  Miss  Agnes  Mitchell, 
Secretary ;  Miss  V,  Hover,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Miss 
Marion  Stewart,  Treasurer,  These  officers  took  charge  of 
it  for  two  years,  during  which  time  it  contributed  towards 
the  support  of  a  missionary  in  Utah  and  responded  liber- 
ally to  an  appeal — made  by  the  writer — in  behalf  of  the 
Woman's  Board  of  Missions  in  New  York  for  contributions 
towards  a  fund  to  procure  a  boat  for  the  missionaries  in 
Petchaburi,  Siam,     The  amount  raised  that  year  was  $93. 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  a  letter  received 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  money  contributed  by  the  "  Joy 
Bells  "  Mission  Band  and  the  "  Constant  Workers  "  Mission 
Band  of  the  Westminster  Church  for  that  object : 

"  The  children  in  Yonkers  have  done  a  great  thing  in 
giving  their  money  towards  so  noble  an  enterprise  as  this. 
The  missionaries  in  Siam  needed  a  boat  very  much  to  carry 
forward  their  work  successfully.  Some  of  them  often  go 
away  on  mission  work  for  several  days,  and  if  any  one  takes 
sick  one  of  the  best  cures  is  to  go  off  in  a  boat  for  a  day  or 
two.  There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  sickness  here  lately, 
and  I  think  it  did  some  of  our  missionaries  very  much  good 
to  get  away  even  for  a  day  from  the  Compound,  where  death 
has  made  such  havoc  recently.  As  we  sailed  up  the  river 
we  distributed  our  books  and  tracts  to  the  crowd  of  curious 
natives,  old  and  young.  So  we  tried  to  scatter  handf uls  of 
good  seed  in  their  hearts  and  leave  it  to  God's  fostering 

Church  ;uid  Sunday-Bchool  Work.  lO 


146  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

care.  Again  we  congratulate  the  little  stockholders  in 
Yonkers  who  have  so  liberally  given  their  pennies  to  pur- 
chase our  boat.  As  they  have  so  freely  given  so  may  they 
freely  receive  the  blessed  Saviour's  blessing." 

The  band  is  now  in  charge  of  Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins, 
who  is  assisted  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Barclay  and  Miss  Jennie 
Doren.  It  has  a  membership  of  224.  It  contributes  to- 
wards home  and  foreign  missions,  and  raised  in  1887  $112. 

In  1888  it  held  a  most  enjoyable  entertainment,  known 
as  the  "  Dolls'  Fair."  The  dolls'  fair  was  a  great  success,  so 
much  so,  that  by  request  it  was  repeated  the  following  even, 
ing.     The  sum  of  $25  was  realized  by  the  dolls'  reception. 

In  1888  the  band  assumed  the  support  of  Gria  Sonn- 
dari,  a  native  teacher  in  India.  The  present  officers  of  the 
band,  January,  1890,  are:  Miss  Helen  Rollins,  President; 
Miss  Veronica  Hover,  Vice-President ;  Miss  Jennie  R.  Do- 
ren, Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

May,  1888,  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole  and  Elder  George 
Stewart  were  selected  as  delegates  from  the  Reformed 
Church  in  America  to  the  Alliance  of  Reformed  Churches 
and  to  the  World's  Missionary  Conference,  which  was  held 
in  London  in  June.  On  Sunday,  May  20,  a  very  interesting 
farewell  meeting  was  held  by  the  Sabbath-school  and  by 
the  church  with  the  pastor  and  elder.  Mr.  Stewart  had 
been  the  successful  superintendent  of  the  Primary  Depart- 
ment of  the  school  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  exercises 
were  especially  sympathetic. 

The  evening  service  was  devoted  to  missions.  The 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  active  in  these  various 
meetings. 

On  Wednesday  the  society  and  many  members  of  the 
congregation  were  gathered  on  the  "  Germanic "  to  bid 
Godspeed  to  Dr.  Cole  and  the  elder. 

Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins  has  taught  in  this  Sunday-school 
since  1852,  beginning  the  work  of  Sunday-school  teacher 
when  but  a  child  with  teaching  a  class  of  little  children. 
She  has  had  charge  of  the  largest  Bible-class  in  the  school 
since  1865,  at  which  time  the  place  it  occupied  in  the  chapel 
school  became  too  small  to  accommodate  its  increasing 
numbers,  and  it  was  moved  to  the  gallery  of  the  church. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        147 

which  it  occupies  at  the  present  writing.  The  class  was 
formerly  composed  of  young  men.  Now  young  ladies  are 
among  its  members  as  well. 

The  two  pupils  of  this  school  sent  to  New  Brunswick 
as  students  for  the  ministry,  namely,  James  H.  Owens  and 
Henry  J.  Bogardus,  were  members  of  this  class.  The  for- 
mer is  now  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Perth 
Amboy,  N.  J.  Mr.  Bogardus  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1 88 1,  and  was  intending  at  the  time  to  become  a  mission- 
ary in  Japan,  and  took  a  course  of  medical  study  with  that 
end  in  view.  At  the  end  of  that  course  he  was  prevailed 
upon  to  remain  in  this  country  and  take  a  position  in  the 
Hospital  for  the  Ruptured  and  Crippled  in  New  York  city, 
in  which  place  he  remains  to-day. 

Others  from  this  class  are  now  occupying  positions  of 
usefulness  in  the  church.  Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  now  one 
of  the  deacons  of  this  church  and  a  teacher  of  this  Sunday- 
school,  was  a  pupil  in  this  class,  also  Stephen  A.  Peene,  who 
is  now  a  teacher  in  the  school.  Many  from  this  class  have 
become  communicants  in  the  church. 

Two  sons  of  the  pastor,  J.  Wycoff  Cole  and  Frank 
Howard  Cole,  Charles  Howard  Bertholf,  Herbert  R.  Fre- 
denburgh,  and  many  others  whose  names  cannot  be  re- 
called, have  been  among  the  number. 

Miss  Adelia  E.  Hoyt,  who  recently  passed  to  her  heav- 
enly reward,  was  connected  with  this  school  for  a  period  of 
forty-two  years. 

Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins,  from  this  school,  stands  high 
on  the  honorary  roll  of  Sunday-school  teachers  in  Yonkers 
for  her  long  and  faithful  service  in  the  work. 

The  school  has  always  manifested  a  deep  interest  in 
the  temperance  cause  and  many  of  its  teachers  have  been 
prominent  in  advancing  the  work  in  Yonkers.  Miss  Helen 
A.  Rollins,  Miss  Mary  Berwick,  and  the  writer  were  among 
the  founders  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union 
of  Yonkers,  which  was  organized  March  22,  1878.  John 
Pagan  was  also  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the  prohi- 
bition movement  in  Yonkers,  and  has  been  nominated  for 
several  offices  on  the  prohibition  ticket. 

"  On  several  occasions  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Cole 


148  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

large  accessions  have  been  received  into  the  church  from 
the  Sunday-school ;  and  more  than  one-third  of  all  received 
into  the  communion  of  the  church  by  profession  since  Dr. 
Cole's  pastorate,  have  come  from  the  Sunday-school.  It  has 
had  its  times  of  coldness  and  fruitlessness,  but  it  has*  also 
had  its  years  of  abundant  blessing-  and  large  fruitage. 
During  the  year  1870  sixteen,  the  year  1874  thirty,  the  year 
1878  twenty-three,  and  the  year  1887  thirty-five  from  this 
school,  were  received  into  the  communion  of  the  church. 

The  number  of  pupils  received  into  the  church  from 
the  school  and  the  Ludlow  Street  Mission  School  from 
1887  to  1889  was  fifty-six. 

The  school  is  self-supporting.  It  has  supported  a  Bible- 
reader,  Abram  Williams,  for  more  than  twenty  years  at  an 
expense  of  $100  per  year.  The  contributions  for  benevo- 
lence in  1888  were  $160. 

Number  on  roll-book  April,  1891,  of  officers,  teachers, 
and  scholars,  256. 

Hyatt  L.  Garrison,  ex-superintendent  of  the  Reformed 
Church  Sunday-school,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Exec- 
utive Committee  of  the  Westchester  County  Sunday-school 
Teachers'  Association,  which  was  organized  at  Tarrytown, 
N.  Y.,  November  19,  1889. 

A  new  library,  the  gift  of  the  congregation  on  Christ- 
mas, 1888,  was  presented  to  the  school,  and  the  old  library 
was  donated  to  a  school  in  the  West.  The  present  num- 
ber of  volumes  is  425. 

The  International  Lesson  Quarterly  is  used,  and  the 
papers  distributed  are  the  publications  of  David  C.  Cook 
Publishing  Company,  The  singing-book  is  "  Pilgrim 
Songs." 

The  Superintendents  of  this  school  as  far  as  can  be 
ascertained  have  been  :  Lemuel  Watts  Wells,  the  first  su- 
perintendent, Charles  W.  Baird,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  Joseph  H. 
Jennings,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  John  K,  Myers,  Gustavus  A. 
Rollins,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  Joseph  H.  Palmer,  Walter  Under- 
hill.  Dr.  Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  Anson  B.  Hoyt,  James  Stewart, 
George  Stewart,  Hyatt  L.  Garrison,  and  Christian  F.  Tiet- 
jen,  Charles  E.  See  elected  in  1888,  and  W.  A.  Drinkwater 
elected  May,  1891. 


THE   REFORMED   CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        I49 

The  officers  of  the  school,  January,  1887,  were;  Chris- 
tian F.  Tietjen,  Superintendent ;  Virgil  Myers,  First  As- 
sistant ;  George  Stewart,  Second  Assistant ;  Joseph  Hover, 
Secretary;  William  M.  Dick,  Treasurer;  Henry  Pagan, 
Librarian  ;  Edward  R.  Cole,  Assistant  Librarian. 

The  officers  of  the  school  January,  1 890,  were  :  Charles 
E.  See,  Superintendent;  Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  first  As- 
sistant Superintendent ;  Miss  Marion  Stewart,  second  Assist- 
ant Superintendent,  in  charge  of  the  Infant  Department ; 
Le  Grand  W.  Ketcham,  Treasurer ;  William  A.  Wiggins, 
Secretary ;  Edward  R.  Cole,  Librarian  ;  Alden  C.  Tomp- 
kins and  John  P.  Radcliff,  Jr.,  Assistant  Librarians. 

Officers  and  teachers  of  the  Sunday-school  elected  for 
year.  May  i,  1891,  are  as  follows: 

Superintendent         -        .        .        .  Mr.  W.  A  Drinkwater. 

First  Assistant  Superintendent        -  Mr.  John  Pagan. 

Second      "  "  -        -  Miss  Marion  Stewart. 

Secretary Mr.  W.  A.  Wiggins. 

Assistant  Secretary  -        -        -        -  Mr.  C.  F.  Walters. 

Treasurer Mr.  Le  Grand  W.  Ketcham. 

Librarian    -        -        -  -        -  Mr.  A.  C.  Tompkins. 

First  Assistant  Librarian  -        -  Mr.  E.  R.  Cole. 

Second     "  "  -        -  Dr.  H.  Winthrop  Bertholf. 

TEACHERS. 

Miss  H.  A.  Rollins,  Miss  M.  Y.  Kellock, 

Miss  Phoebe  Palmer,  Mr.  John  Pagan, 

Miss  J.  R.  Doren,  Mr.  Virgil  Myers, 

Miss  Mary  Berwick,  Mr.  R.  J.  Dick, 

Miss  Carrie  J.  Bowler,  Mr.  George  Stewart, 

Miss  Jean  B.  Archibald,  Mr.  John  P.  Radcliff,  Jr. 

Miss  Agnes  Mitchell,  Mr.  H.  L.  Garrison, 

Miss  Edith  A.  Doren,  Mr.  George  J.  Ord, 
Mr.  Martin  Blauvelt. 

PRIMARY   DEPARTMENT. 

Miss  Marion  Stewart,  Superintendent ;  Miss  Mary  Stewart,  Assistant. 


150  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

ST.    MARY'S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH,    PARISH,   AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL.^'' 

The  first  record  of  any  religious  service  of  the  Roman- 
catholic  Church  in  Yonkers  is  about  1836-9,  at  which  time 
the  Rev.  James  Cummiskey  began  his  ministrations  among 
the  workmen  who  were  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the 
Croton  aqueduct  from  Sing  Sing  to  New  York.  Many  of 
the  laborers  on  the  bridge  over  the  Sawmill  River — now  the 
Nepperhan  River — occupied  the  adjacent  uplands  which  be- 
longed to  Anthony  Archer,  Sr.  A  building  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  where  Summit  Street  now  runs,  between  the  aque- 
duct and  the  river,  was  set  apart  for  religious  service  and 
became  the  first  Catholic  Chapel  in  Yonkers,  and  here  Rev. 
James  Cummiskey  heard  the  confessions  and  said  mass  for 
the  people.  Father  Cummiskey  won  the  respect  of  all 
whom  he  met,  and  people  especially  welcomed  his  coming 
when  dissensions  among  the  laborers  occurred,  as  they 
sometimes  did. 

He  continued  his  services  among  the  Roman-catholics 
of  Yonkers  until  the  completion  of  the  aqueduct,  after  which 
he  left  Yonkers,  and  the  few  Catholics  who  remained  were 
dependent  on  such  neighboring  missions  as  they  could  reach. 
In  the  autumn  of  1847  work  was  begun  on  the  construction 
of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  through  Yonkers.  Thomas 
C.  Cornell  was  appointed  a  civil  engineer  of  this  work, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Ryan,  S.  J.,  one  of  the  professors  of 
Fordham  College,  and  later  the  first  president  of  St.  Xavier 
College  in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  charged  with  the  mis- 
sion among  the  laborers.  Before  the  end  of  the  year  he 
made  it  a  rule  to  say  mass  at  Yonkers  every  Sunday  and  to 
hear  confessions  on  Saturday  evening  and  Sunday  morning. 

The  first  mass  was  held  in  a  dwelling-house  near  George 
Morgan's  Dye   Works,    not   far    from    where   Nepperhan 

*  For  the  most  of  the  facts  in  this  chapter  the  writer  is  indebted  to 
"The  Beginnings  of  the  Roman-cathohc  Church  in  Yonkers,"  written  by 
Thomas  C.  Cornell,  and  published  in  1S83. 


ST.    MARYS   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  151 

Avenue  crosses  the  Sawmill  River,  Hugh  Donoghue  serving 
the  mass  and  Thomas  C.  Cornell  being  one  of  the  worship- 
pers. Mr.  Morgan  offered  the  use  of  a  store-room  belong- 
ing to  his  office,  where  the  little  congregation  shared  the 
space  with  boxes  of  logwood  waiting  shipment. 

In  1848  Ethan  Flagg  erected  the  first  three-story  brick 
building  in  Yonkers.  It  stood  on  the  corner  of  Palisade 
Avenue  (then  Factory  Street)  and  New  Main  Street  (then 
Mechanic  Street)  and  the  upper  floor  was  hired  for  Father 
Ryan's  Sunday  services  during  the  summer  and  autumn 
of  1848. 

The  same  year  Father  Ryan  thought  the  time  had  come 
to  build  a  Roman-catholic  church  in  Yonkers.  Judge  Wood- 
worth  offered  to  give  the  land  for  a  Catholic  church  where 
St.  Mary's  now  stands,  and  the  offer  was  accepted  by  Father 
Ryan.  The  lot  deeded  was  85  feet  front  on  South  Street,  as 
it  was  named  in  the  deed,  135  feet  deep,  and  164  feet  wide 
along  Judge  Vark's  line  in  the  rear.  The  name  of  South 
Street  was  changed  to  St.  Mary's  Street  as  soon  as  the 
name  proposed  for  the  new  church  was  known.  It  was 
understood  that  the  three  partners  in  the  fifty-acre  tract 
had  agreed  among  themselves  to  give  land  for  three  church- 
es, Judge  Woodworth  to  the  Catholics,  and  Messrs.  Rich 
and  Scrymser  to  the  Presbyterians  and  the  Baptists,  but  as 
the  latter  part  of  this  plan  was  never  carried  out,  the  land 
deeded  to  Bishop  Hughes,  in  the  summer  of  1848,  was  really 
the  joint  gift  of  these  three  gentlemen. 

Soon  after  obtaining  the  land  Father  Ryan  procured 
plans  for  a  church  from  Patrick  C.  Keely^  an  architect  of 
considerable  reputation  and  who  built  a  great  number  of  the 
best  Catholic  churches  in  the  United  States,  one  of  which 
is  St.  Francis  Xavier  in  New  York,  and  St.  Mary's  Church 
was  built  in  conformity  with  these  plans.  The  dimensions 
of  the  church  were  40  by  70  feet,  with  a  small  sacristy, 
1 3  by  23  feet,  in  the  rear,  and  enough  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
brick- work  of  the  tower  in  front  to  make  an  entrance  porch. 

The  building  seemed  so  large  in  proportion  to  the  needs 
of  the  congregation  that  Thomas  C.  Cornell,  with  the  con- 
sent of  Father  Ryan,  went  to  Bishop  Hughes  to  urge  a 
smaller   church.      The   Bishop   said   that  the  plan   ought 


152  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

rather  to  be  larger  than  smaller.  "  I  have  always  found," 
said  he,  "  the  numbers  as  well  as  the  ability  of  such  missions 
to  exceed  first  anticipations."  Father  Ryan  wished  the 
church  to  be  dedicated  "  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  con- 
ceived without  sin,"  and  it  is  hence  called  either  the  Church 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  or  St.  Mary's,  at  pleasure. 

A  contract  for  the  mason-work  was  made  with  Peter  F. 
Peek,  in  1848,  for  $2,045,  which  with  the  extras  increased 
to  about  $2,200,  and  of  this  sum  Mr.  Peek  agreed  to  give 
one  year's  credit  for  $400,  and  in  addition  it  was  provided 
that  in  case  the  money  could  not  be  collected,  work  could  be 
stopped  at  any  time  on  paying  for  the  portion  actually  done. 
But  the  money  did  not  fail,  and  a  contract  was  made  with 
William  H.  Hanlon  to  put  on  the  roof,  lay  the  floors,  and 
put  in  doors  for  $1,065,  which  with  some  extras  amounted 
to  $T,20o.  The  work  was  completed  in  December,  and  the 
windows  were  boarded  up,  with  here  and  there  an  old  sash 
to  let  in  the  light.  Sashes  were  put  in  the  vestry  and  some 
rude  board  benches  were  made  in  the  church,  a  couple  of 
stoves  were  set  up,  and  thus,  with  brick  walls  and  no  ceil- 
ing. Father  Ryan  gave  his  congregation  their  Christmas 
mass  of  1848  in  their  own  church. 

Collections  were  made  by  Father  Ryan  and  by  Thomas 
C.  Cornell  and  others,  most  of  it  in  sums  of  fifty  cents  to  one 
dollar.  The  contributors  from  Yonkers,  not  a  few  of  whom 
were  not  Catholics,  included  many  names  still  remembered. 
Moses  H.  Grinnell,  then  living  here,  was  one  of  the  most 
liberal,  giving  $25.  Among  the  others  were  Judge  William 
W.  Scrugham,  Prince  W.  Paddock,  Thomas  W.  Ludlow,  S. 
W.  Chambers,  De  Witt  C.  Kellinger,  Levi  P.  Rose,  Lispe- 
nard  Stewart,  W.  F.  Groshon,  Thomas  C.  Cornell,  Hugh 
Donoghue,  C.  M.  Odell,  Jacob  Read,  Edward  F.  Shonnard, 
Mr.  Williams,  John  Chrisfield,  John  Mathews,  John  Moffat, 
and  many  others. 

The  church  walls  remained  unplastered,  with  no  ceiling 
but  the  open  roof,  for  nearly  three  years,  and  the  only  seats 
were  rude  board  benches  without  backs,  the  men  all  sitting 
on  the  gospel  side  and  the  women  on  the  epistle  side,  but  in 
the  summer  of  1 846  enamelled  glass  windows  were  put  in  at 
a  cost  of  $500,  which  however  included  a  sanctuary  rail. 


ST.    MARY'S    ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  1 53 

Judge  Woodworth  offered  to  pay  the  cost  of  the  spire 
if  the  church  would  complete  the  brickwork  of  the  tower, 
and  this  was  done  in  the  autumn  of  1 849  at  the  cost  of  $600. 
In  all  these  building  contracts  Father  Ryan's  building 
committee  had  been  Judge  Woodworth,  Thomas  C.  Cornell, 
and  Hugh  Donoghue.  At  the  end  of  1849  the  church  had 
cost,  exclusive  of  land,  $4,500.  This  was  the  portion  of  the 
church  which  now  (February,  1887)  lies  in  the  front  of  the 
transepts  and  remained  thus  unfinished  until  the  autumn 
of  1851. 

Father  Ryan  organized  a  Sunday-school  as  soon  as  he 
could  obtain  a  place  to  hold  it.  He  taught  the  children 
himself,  and  from  among  the  pupils  of  the  Sunday-school 
who  had  voices  for  music  he  selected  a  number  and  taught 
them  the  elements  of  musical  notation  every  Sunday  after- 
noon when  he  could  himself  be  present  with  them.  The 
school  met  in  the  audience-room  of  the  church  and  num- 
bered about  fifty  pupils. 

In  September,  1850,  the  College  of  St.  Francis  Xavier 
was  opened  in  Fifteenth  Street,  New  York.  Father  Ryan 
was  chosen  its  first  president,  and  his  duties  there  rendered 
it  impossible  for  him  to  continue  his  mission  at  Yonkers. 

For  a  time,  in  1850,  Father  Bienvenue  attended  the 
mission,  coming  from  Fordham  every  Saturday  evening 
and  returning  on  Sunday  evening.  He  attended  the  mis- 
sion Sundays  and  holy  days  from  1849  to  1850.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  L.  Jouin,  S.  J.,  who  continued 
in  charge  from  1850  to  185 1.  At  the  end  of  this  year  the 
congregation  thought  they  were  able  to  maintain  a  resi- 
dent pastor,  and  after  consultation  with  the  above  mentioned 
lay  committee,  with  the  approval  of  Fathers  Jouin  and  Ryan, 
Thomas  C.  Cornell  made  the  request  for  a  resident  pastor 
to  Archbishop  Hughes,  who  promptly  responded,  and  in 
July,  185 1,  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Preston,  now  the  Right  Rev- 
erend Monsignor  Preston,  holding  the  dignity  of  prelate 
of  the  papal  household,  arrived  in  Yonkers  and  took  charge 
of  the  new  parish. 

After  Father  Ryan  became  president  of  the  College 
of  St.  Xavier  in  New  York  and  gave  up  his  Yonkers  mission, 
his  Sunday-school  was  continued  with  some  intermissions 


154  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

by  his  successors.  Father  Jouin  brought  in  lay  teachers  to 
assist  him.  There  exists  no  contemporary  record  of  Father 
Jouin's  Sunday-school,  and  tradition  can  now  recall  among 
its  teachers  only  the  names  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  C.  Cornell, 
Dr.  Hugh  Gartlan,  and  Hugh  Donoghue.  This  school,  num- 
bering less  than  a  hundred  pupils,  Father  Preston  found  at 
his  coming  in  1857.  He  preferred  to  have  the  religious 
teaching  of  the  children  in  his  own  hands,  and  relieving  the 
lay  teachers  taught  the  children  himself  on  Sunday  after- 
noons. Sunday-schools  under  lay  teachers  do  not  seem  to 
be  entirely  in  accordance  with  Roman-catholic  customs. 
Religious  instruction  comes  from  the  priest  or  from  the  re- 
ligious orders  who  make  teaching  a  duty.  Hence  perhaps 
one  of  the  reasons  why  Catholics  desire  parish  schools  and 
teach  religion  in  the  lessons  of  every  day. 

The  church  at  Yonkers  when  Father  Preston  took 
charge  was  still  in  an  unfinished  condition.  But  by  All 
Saints'  Day  it  was  finished,  and  on  November  16,  1851, 
Bishop  Hughes  blessed  the  church  and  gave  confirmation. 
Several  clergymen  were  present  and  the  Rev.  Arthur  J. 
Donnelly,  who  afterwards  became  pastor  of  St.  Michael's, 
New  York,  and  is  now  one  of  the  Vicars-General  of  the 
diocese,  was  master  of  ceremonies.  After  the  service  at  the 
church  Archbishop  Hughes,  Father  Preston,  Thomas  C. 
Cornell,  with  two  or  three  other  friends  of  Judge  Wood- 
worth,  were  invited  to  dine  with  him  at  his  residence  at 
Manor  Hall. 

This  school  had  been  opened  in  the  early  spring  of  1852 
in  the  basement  of  the  dwelling-house  still  standing  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  St.  Mary's  and  Clinton  Streets,  with  less 
than  a  dozen  boys  and  girls  together,  and  it  did  not  exceed 
two  dozen  when  first  opened  in  the  new  schoolhouse.  But 
a  year  later  the  number  exceeded  eighty,  and  when  closed 
in  March,  1854,  there  were  ninety-two. 

At  this  time  the  Yonkers  mission  included  Hastings, 
Dobbs  Ferry,  and  Tarrytown.  Father  Ryan  occasionally 
said  mass  at  those  places,  and  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Power, 
V.  G.,  occasionally  said  mass  at  Hastings.  Dr.  Power  died 
in  April,  1849.  After  Father  Preston's  coming  these  mis- 
sions were  regularly  attended.      There  was   no  parochial 


ST.    MARY'S    ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  155 

residence  in  Yonkers  at  that  time,  and  Father  Preston 
boarded  as  he  could. 

In  the  summer  of  1853  he  ventured  to  build  a  house. 
He  did  not  ask  for  much — a  small  parlor,  a  dining-room 
and  a  kitchen,  with  two  bedrooms  above,  making  a  house 
less  than  twenty-five  by  thirty  feet,  which  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  about  $2,200.  The  house  was  scarcely  inclosed 
when  in  October,  1853,  Father  Preston  was  recalled  by 
Archbishop  Hughes  to  become  his  secretary. 

The  congregation  of  St.  Mary's  with  great  regret  heard 
the  recall,  and  a  delegation,  among  whom  was  Thos.  C.  Cor- 
nell, went  down  to  the  Archbishop  to  induce  him  to  recon- 
sider the  call.  But  the  Archbishop  promptly  intimated  that 
such  petitions  could  not  even  be  considered.  "  I  must  look 
on  every  side,"  he  explained  in  a  kindly  way,  "  and  must 
be  left  free  to  do  what  seems  to  me  best  for  all." 

Father  Preston's  successor,  in  making  his  financial 
statement  in  assuming  control  of  the  parish,  said  that  the 
record  showed  that  during  the  two  years  and  three  months 
of  Father  Preston's  pastoral  charge  in  Yonkers  he  had 
drawn  but  $200  for  his  own  salary  and  personal  expenses. 
Father  Preston  was  subsequently  made  Chancellor  of  the 
diocese,  and  has  now  long  been  Vicar-General  and  one  of 
the  Archbishop's  council. 

Rev.  John  McMahon  succeeded  Father  Preston  and 
continued  in  charge  from  October,  1853,  to  May,  1854,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Eugene  Maguire,  who  remained  in 
charge  from  May,  1854,  to  February,  1856.  The  parish  school 
had  been  discontinued  for  two  months  before  he  came  and 
was  not  reopened  during  his  stay,  and  the  little  school- 
house  became  the  residence  of  the  sexton. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Lynch  was  appointed  the  next  pastor 
of  St.  Mary's  at  Yonkers,  on  February  20,  1856,  and  contin- 
ued in  charge  until  May,  1865.  His  assistants  during  his 
pastorate  at  St.  Mary's  Church  were :  Rev.  S.  A.  Mullady, 
S.  J.,  from  January,  1859,  to  J^ly-  iS^i !  Rev.  Father  Biretta, 
O.  S.  F.,  from  1861  to  1862;  Rev.  Patrick  Brady,  from 
January,  1863,  to  May,  1863;  Rev.  T.  Byrne,  June,  1864,  to 
October,  1864;  Rev.  Wm.  H.  H.  Oram,  from  October,  1864, 
until  May,  1865. 


156  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  parish  school  had  been  discontinued  for  nearly  two 
years.  Father  Lynch  had  been  but  two  weeks  in  Yonkers 
when  it  was  reopened  in  the  small  schoolhouse  with  twenty- 
two  girls  under  Miss  Josephine  Dwight,  and  as  many  boys 
under  James  Webb.  A  few  weeks  later  John  J.  Hughes, 
who  afterwards  became  the  pastor  of  St.  Jerome's  Church, 
Mott  Haven,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  boys,  and  the  base- 
ment of  the  schoolhouse  was  fitted  up  for  the  girls,  whose 
number  increased  to  more  than  eighty  during  the  year 
Miss  Dwight  remained  with  them.  Father  Ryan,  in  build- 
ing the  church,  did  not  wish  to  leave  it  possible  to  put  any 
basement  room  under  it,  but  Father  Lynch  found  the  want 
of  such  a  room  so  great  that  he  undertook  it,  and  he  placed 
stone  piers  under  the  floor  with  columns.  This  work  cost 
about  $600,  and  the  boys  removed  to  this  room  in  1857. 
John  J.  Hughes  entering  the  college  at  Fordham,  Mr.  Reily 
took  his  place  as  teacher  of  the  boys.  From  that  year  till 
1 860  the  little  schoolhouse  was  occupied  by  the  girls  under 
the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity. 

The  coming  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  to  Yonkers  is  an 
important  event  in  the  history  of  this  church,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances of  their  coming  are  as  follows :  the  Mother  House 
of  the  Sisters,  near  Fifth  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Street,  had  been  recently  taken  for  Central  Park, 
and  another  and  larger  place  was  required.  A  place  on  the 
Hudson  River,  between  Tarrytown  and  New  York,  seemed 
desirable.  Mother  M.  Angela,  a  sister  of  Archbishop 
Hughes,  was  at  that  time  the  Superior.  She  had  been  Sis- 
ter Angela  in  charge  of  St.  Vincent's  Hospital  until  the 
preceding  December,  1865.  At  Mother  Angela's  request 
Thomas  C.  Cornell  accompanied  her  and  her  secretary. 
Sister  Willian  Anna,  in  visiting  and  examining  the  places 
offered  for  sale  on  the  Hudson. 

Mr.  Cornell  invited  Mother  Angela  to  visit  the  Forrest 
property.  He  had  known  the  place  and  its  owner  for  some 
years,  and  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forrest  were  talking  of  build- 
ing, Mr.  Forrest  had  intended  to  build  on  the  point,  since  cut 
by  the  railroad,  "  a  cluster  of  towers  in  the  later  Norman 
style."  The  present  situation  was  selected  and  the  castle 
completed.     Before  showing  it  to  Mother  Angela  Mr.  Cor- 


ST.    MARYS    ROMAN-CATHOLIC    CHURCH.  1 57 

nell  sent  for  Mr.  Forrest  to  come  and  see  him,  which  he 
did. 

In  the  course  of  the  interview  Mr.  Forrest  said,  "  The 
place  has  cost  me  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  if  the 
Sisters  want  it  they  can  have  it  at  cost,  and  I  will  make 
them  a  present  of  five  thousand  dollars  towards  the  pur- 
chase." An  appointment  was  made  for  him  to  meet  Mother 
Angela  on  the  ground.  Mr.  Forrest,  not  content  with  show, 
ing  her  the  beauties  of  the  place,  the  castle,  the  cottage,  and 
the  great  stone  barn,  took  her  to  the  pond  near  the  gate 
where  the  fish  came  to  the  shoals  and  ate  bread  out  of  his 
hand. 

At  Mother  Angela's  request  Archbishop  Hughes,  ac. 
companied  by  Mr.  Cornell,  looked  over  the  place  that  he 
might  advise  her  about  the  purchase.  "  This  is  the  place,'' 
said  the  Archbishop,  on  seeing  it.  But  on  reaching  the 
castle  he  added,  "  But  that  must  come  down."  Second 
thought,  however,  preserved  it  as  a  residence  for  the  Chap- 
lain. The  purchase  was  consummated  in  December,  1856, 
and  Mr.  Forrest  gave  his  certified  check  for  $5,000  as  his 
contribution. 

The  title  is  in  the  name  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  a 
corporation  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  The  foundation  of  the  convent  was  begun  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  and  the  corner-stone  of  the  chapel  was  laid 
by  Archbishop  Hughes  September  8,  1857.  In  his  address 
he  claimed  for  the  chapel  the  dignity  of  a  parish  church, 
and  spoke  with  force  of  the  far-reaching  influence  of  the 
institution  of  which  they  were  then  laying  the  foundations. 
A  small  colony  of  sisters  then  occupied  the  castle,  and  in 
September  of  the  same  year  two  of  them — Sister  M.  Chrys- 
ostom  and  Sister  M.  Winnefred — were  put  in  charge  of  the 
girls'  department  of  the  parish  school  in  Yonkers.  Fa- 
ther Lynch  provided  a  carriage  to  bring  the  Sisters  to  the 
school  and  to  return  them  to  their  home  every  night.  This 
was  ten  years  before  the  Sisters  had  their  own  house  of  St. 
Aloysius  in  Yonkers. 

Father  Lynch  thought  the  building  of  a  new  school- 
house  his  most  important  work,  and  in  1859  i^s  erection  was 
begun.    The  dimensions  of  the  building  were  50  by  55  feet, 


158  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

with  two  stories,  a  basement  and  attic.  It  was  completed 
in  September,  1859.  It  cost,  including  furniture,  about 
$10,000. 

Sisters  Chrysostom  and  Winnefred  remained  in  charge 
of  the  school  till  the  death  of  Sister  Chrysostom,  January 
28,  1865.  Sister  Chrysostom  was  endowed  with  unusual 
intellectual  gifts  and  was  a  most  successful  teacher.  She 
is  still  held  in  loving  honor  by  all  who  knew  her,  and 
although  long  ill  with  consumption,  she  continued  to  work 
faithfully  until  within  a  few  weeks  of  her  death.  During 
her  illness  her  place  was  supplied  for  over  a  year  by  Sis- 
ter Ambrosia,  who  subsequently  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
girls'  protectory  at  Westchester,  and  is  now  Mother  Superior 
of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  in  the  diocese. 

Father  Lynch  put  the  Sisters  with  the  girls  on  the  first 
floor,  and  the  boys  on  the  second  floor  of  the  new  school- 
house  under  the  care  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  and  the 
third  floor  was  fitted  up  for  the  brothers'  dwelling. 

The  Brothers'  School  was  opened  in  September,  1871, 
under  the  care  of  Brother  Clementin — now  vice-president 
of  Manhattan  College — as  director,  with  three  assistants 
and  about  150  boys.  Mr.  Riley's  school  in  the  basement 
of  the  church  the  preceding  year  numbered  about  125  boys. 

The  girls'  school  in  the  spring  of  1857,  before  the 
coming  of  the  sisters,  had  numbered  about  83,  but  when 
Sisters  Chrysostom  and  Winnefred  came  the  number  in- 
creased to  above  100.  When  they  moved  into  the  new 
schoolhouse  in  September,  i860,  the  girls  numbered  135, 
and  at  the  time  of  Sister  Chrysostom's  death  had  reached 
155,  making  the  whole  school  of  boys  and  girls  about  three 
hundred. 

After  the  building  of  the  schoolhouse  the  enlargement 
of  the  church  was  begun,  and  transepts,  chancel,  and  vestry 
were  added.  In  the  original  church  there  were  but  two 
aisles  and  84  pews ;  in  the  enlarged  church  there  are  three 
aisles  and  162  pews  on  the  floor  and  34  in  the  gallery,  and 
it  will  seat  one  thousand  persons.  The  enlargement  of  the 
church  was  finished  in  the  autumn  of  1863  at  the  cost  of 
$13,000.  James  and  David  Stewart  did  the  mason  work 
and  Anthony  Imhoff  the  carpenter  work. 


ST.    MARY'S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  1 59 

The  parish  work  increased  so  largely  that  Father 
Lynch  was  obliged  to  call  an  assistant,  who  was  Rev.  S.  A. 
Mullady  (formerly  of  the  Society  of  Jesus),  who  was  his 
first  assistant.  Other  assistants  followed  him.  Father 
Lynch  began  to  fail  in  health  for  nearly  a  year  before  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  the  parochial  residence  May  5, 
1865,  in  the  tenth  year  of  his  pastorate  at  Yonkers,  He 
was  much  mourned  by  his  people,  who  were  devotedly 
attached  to  him. 

It  was  Father  Lynch's  habit  to  consult  with  his  people 
about  all  of  his  undertakings.  He  mingled  much  among 
them  and  spoke  freely  of  what  he  thought  it  might  be  best 
to  do  and  of  the  reasons  for  it.  He  did  not  discuss  matters 
with  them  to  any  extent,  but  rather  stated  his  own  wishes 
and  hopes  in  a  way  not  to  invite  objections. 

Whenever  he  met  his  people  in  their  own  homes,  or 
by  the  way,  he  talked  of  things  until  they  saw  as  he  did, 
and  then  whatever  he  undertook  the  people  were  heartily 
with  him.  Outside  of  his  church. all  whom  he  met  respected 
and  honored  him.  He  interested  himself  in  the  local  and 
public  welfare,  giving  his  influence  to  the  side  of  the  Gov- 
ernment from  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861. 

He  brought  his  people  and  the  children  of  his  schools 
to  the  great  fair  held  in  February,  1864  (in  the  then  new 
building,  now  the  Macfarlane  silk  factory,  on  James  Street), 
in  aid  of  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  and  was 
one  of  the  guests  at  the  dinner  which  was  given  there  by 
its  friends  to  all  the  Yonkers  clergymen. 

A  little  pamphlet,  entitled  "Chronicles  of  Yonkers," 
was  privately  printed  and  sold  for  the  benefit  of  this  fair. 
It  was  beautifully  printed  on  rose-tinted  paper.  Its  author, 
then  unknown,  was  Robert  P.  Getty.  In  this  pamphlet  a 
rhyming  description  was  given  of  the  clergymen  of  Yonkers, 
and  Father  Lynch  was  alluded  to  in  the  following  lines : 

"  St.  Mary's  good  priest  I  know  by  repute, 
His  zeal  and  devotion  no  one  can  dispute ; 
Be  they  Protestant  or  Catholic,  the  truth  let  me  clinch, 
There  are  few  better  men  than  our  own  Father  Lynch." 

Father  Lynch  was  quiet  and  unostentatious  in  his 
manners  and  very  simple  in  his  way  of  living.     Though 


l6o  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

possessed  of  means  of  his  own,  he  was  contented  to  live  with 
his  assistants  and  friends  in  the  narrow  accommodations 
of  the  parochial  residence.  He  was  a  prudent  financier, 
social  in  his  feelings,  and  his  kindly  and  gentle  ways  won 
for  him  many  friends  in  Yonkers.  When  his  funeral 
procession  passed  on  the  way  to  the  railroad  the  bell  of  St. 
John's  Episcopal  Church  was  tolled.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred beside  his  parents  and  kindred  in  St.  Agnes'  Ceme. 
tery,  Syracuse. 

The  successor  of  Father  Lynch  was  the  Rev.  Charles 
T.  Slevin,  who  came  to  Yonkers  in  May,  1865.  For  two 
years  he  had  no  assistant.  One  of  the  first  of  Father  Slevin's 
works  was  the  erection,  in  1866,  of  a  white  marble  altar  and 
tabernacle  in  place  of  the  wooden  altar  in  the  church.  In 
1 867  the  altar  recess  was  beautified  by  three  large  paint- 
ings. 

Father  Slevin  also  enlarged  the  parochial  residence, 
making  an  addition  to  the  front  of  the  building  and  doub- 
ling the  accommodations,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000. 

The  parish  school  was  continued  by  Father  Slevin  as 
he  found  it.  Sister  Ann  Cecilia  and  Sister  M.  Maurice 
conducted  the  girls'  school,  which  numbered  155  children, 
and  the  Brothers  had  about  150  boys  in  1865.  The  boys' 
school  was  discontinued  in  November,  1876,  until  it  was 
reopened  by  Rev.  Charles  R.  Corley,  the  successor  of 
Father  Slevin. 

Father  Slevin's  assistants  were  the  following:  Rev. 
Albert  A.  Lings  (now  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church),  from 
October  1867  to  1871  ;  Rev.  Bernard  Goodwin,  June,  1 871,  to 
February,  1872;  Rev.  J.  Byron,  from  February,  1872,  to 
June,  1874. 

During  this  time  Father  Slevin's  health  had  been  so 
much  impaired  that  he  obtained  leave  of  absence  and 
went  to  Europe,  hoping  to  regain  his  health  by  an  ocean 
voyage  and  a  brief  visit  to  the  Continent.  The  Rev.  Ed- 
ward McKenna  took  his  place  as  parish  priest  from  Feb- 
ruary to  October,  1873.  Father  Slevin  returned  with  im- 
proved health  and  resumed  his  pastorate  in  October,  1873. 
Rev.  Eugene  McKenna  assistant  from  June,  1874,  to  May 
1875  ;  Rev.  James  W.  Hays,  May,  1875,  for  a  short  period. 


ST.    MARY'S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  l6l 

But  before  this,  in  October,  1874,  Rev.  Andrew  O'Reilley 
was  made  assistant  and  serves  until  the  present  date. 

Father  Slevin's  health  continued  to  fail,  and  in  June, 
1877,  the  Rev.  Charles  R.  Corley  was  sent  to  supply  the  place. 
On  the  1 8th  of  July,  1878,  Rev.  Charles  T.  Slevin,  still  hold- 
ing his  pastorate,  died  among  his  relatives  at  North  Easton, 
Mass. 

Father  Slevin  was  the  first  pastor  to  have  a  paid  choir 
at  St.  Mary's.  He  rebuilt  the  organ  gallery,  putting  a 
larger  and  finer  organ  in  place  of  the  old  one,  which  re- 
mains. He  reduced  the  debt  on  the  church  from  $18,000  to 
$12,000.  During  his  pastorate  two  important  events  oc- 
curred in  the  history  of  the  Catholic  Church  at  Yonkers : 
first — the  founding  of  St.  Aloysius'*  in  1868,  and  second 
the  setting  off  of  the  new  parish  of  St.  Joseph's  in  1871. 

The  Sisters  of  Charity  had  frequently  been  solicited  to 
take  charge  of  small  boys  so  young  as  still  to  need  woman's 
care,  and  it  was  finally  decided  to  open  a  boarding-school 
for  that  purpose.  Thomas  C.  Cornell,  in  response  to  Mo- 
ther Jerome's  inquiry  for  a  suitable  place,  recommended 
the  handsome  property  formerly  occupied  by  Judge  Aaron 
Vark,  on  South  Broadway.  It  was  accordingly  purchased 
by  the  corporation  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  in  November, 
1868,  for  $42,000.  It  comprised  four  and  a  half  acres  of  land 
on  the  highest  ground  in  that  neighborhood.  Important 
additions  have  been  made,  making  the  property  of  high 
value. 

The  institution  has  been  successful  and  has  always 
been  filled  with  pupils.  Its  chief  importance  and  influence, 
however,  have  been  in  bringing  to  Yonkers  a  community 
of  Sisters  of  Charity.  Sister  Ann  Cecilia  was  made  the 
first  Sister  Superior  of  the  institution,  to  which  was  given 
the  name  of  the  Academy  St.  Aloysius,  and  its  doors  were 
opened  to  its  little  proteges  in  December,  1868. 

From  that  date  it  became  the  home  of  the  Sisters  teach- 
ing in  the  parish  school.  For  the  preceding  eleven  years 
they  had  in  all  weather  gone  through  the  two  miles'  jour- 

*  On  Sunday,  Christmas  morning,  1887,  at  half-past  one  o'clock,  St, 
Aloysius'  Academy  on  South  Broadway  was  almost  totally  destroyed  by 
an  accidental  fire. 

Church  and  Sunday  Bchool  Work.  I  I 


l62  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ney  from  the  convent  to  the  school  in  the  morning  and 
returned  in  the  evening  every  school-day  and  to  the  Sun- 
day-school on  Sundays.  The  Sisters  delight  to  tell  of  the 
kindness  and  thoughtfulness,  during  these  years,  of  Mrs. 
M.  W.  Rooney,  who  sent  them,  from  her  home  on  South 
Broadway  and  Prospect  Street,  every  day  a  hot  dinner  for 
their  noon  recess. 

Sister  Mary  Pius  succeeded  Sister  Ann  Cecilia  in  the 
charge  of  St.  Aloysius'  in  April,  1871.  The  sisters  at  the 
parish  school  are  Sisters  Maria  Magdalena,  M.  Germana, 
Agnes  Loyola,  M.  Myra,  and  Frances  Clara.  Sister  M. 
Arsenia  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  parish  school. 

The  present  parish  priest  of  St.  Mary's  is  Rev.  Charles 
Raymond  Corley,  who  has  been  pastor  since  1877.  He  was 
born  on  St.  Raymond's  Day  in  1848,  received  his  classi- 
cal education  at  St.  Xavier  College,  New  York,  entered 
the  Provincial  Theological  Seminary,  was  ordained  by 
Bishop  McQuaid  in  1871,  and  in  June  of  that  year  was  sent 
to  St.  Mary's,  Rondout,  where  he  was  assistant  for  two  years. 
In  July,  1873,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Peter's,  New  York,  as  one 
of  the  assistants  of  Father  Farrell,  now  Bishop  of  Trenton, 
where  he  remained  until  the  Archbishop  sent  him  to  Yon- 
kers  in  June,  1877. 

Father  Corley 's  assistants  have  been  Rev.  Edward 
Sweeny  for  a  short  time  in  1 877  ;  Rev.  Michael  Montgom- 
ery, 1880  to  1 88 1.  The  latter  assisted  during  the  temporary 
illness  of  Father  Corley.  And  since  1884  Rev.  James  F. 
McLoughlin  has  also  been  an  assistant.  Rev.  Andrew 
O'Reilley,  D.  D.,  who  was  assistant  when  Father  Corley 
came  to  the  parish,  has  with  Father  Corley  done  almost  all 
the  pastoral  work  of  St.  Mary's  for  the  past  five  years  and 
more. 

The  parish  school  was  one  of  Father  Corley 's  first  cares 
in  coming  to  Yonkers,  and  he  reopened  the  boys'  depart- 
ment again  under  the  Christian  Brothers.  Rev.  Brother 
Elwaren,  in  September,  1877,  was  made  principal.  He  had 
three  assistants,  his  boys'  department  numbering  215. 

Brother  Alexis  succeeded  Brother  Elwaren  as  director 
in  September,  1881,  and  Brother  Abel  was  put  in  charge  in 
September,   1882,  with  Brothers  Alphanus  John,  Aloysius, 


ST.    MARY'S    ROMAN-CATHOLIC    CHURCH.  163 

and  Francis  as  assistants,  with  313  boys  in  the  classes. 
John  M.  Flood  was  also  one  of  the  assistant  teachers. 

Father  Corley,  on  his  coming  to  Yonkers,  found  Sister 
Martina  in  charge  of  the  300  girls  of  that  department.  In 
September,  1878,  she  was  succeeded  by  Sister  Maria  Magde- 
lina,  and  under  her  administration  the  school  was  marked 
by  great  ability  and  success.  She  was  assisted  by  Miss 
Maggie  M.  Hynes  and  several  others. 

The  girls'  department  is  now  in  charge  of  Sister  M.  Ar- 
senia  and  the  boys'  department  of  the  school  is  in  charge  of 
Rev.  Brother  Dennis,  with  three  Brothers  as  assistants.  In 
January,  1884,  the  two  schools  numbered  nearly  800  pupils. 

The  Sodalities  of  the  parish  school  are  as  follows  :  St. 
Aloysius  Society  of  Boys,  Holy  Angels  of  Girls,  and  Society 
of  the  Holy  Infant.  The  number  of  children  on  the  parish 
school-book  was  835,  and  at  the  free  school  of  Mount  St. 
Vincent,  in  this  parish,  100;  at  St.  Aloysius  Academy  30, 
in  1888.  So  that  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's  there  were  in 
1888,  965  children  enjoying  Catholic  education  without  ex- 
pense to  the  city  or  State.  The  number  of  girls  attending 
the  parish  school  in  November,  1890,  was  425.  The  num- 
ber of  boys  was  410. 

In  the  year  1885  the  building  for  the  parish  school 
erected  by  Rev.  Father  Lynch  in  1 860  was  greatlv  enlarged 
at  a  cost  of  about  $20,000.  The  building  is  three  stories  in 
height  and  has  a  frontage  of  123  feet  on  vSt.  Mary's  Street, 
with  a  depth  of  53  feet. 

The  record  of  the  marriages  and  baptisms  in  St.  Mary's 
church  during  the  following  years  reads  thus : 


Baptisms. 

Mar 

riages. 

1882 

- 

162. 

1882 

- 

- 

30. 

1883 

152. 

1883 

- 

34. 

1884 

- 

168. 

1884 

- 

- 

38. 

1885 

- 

197. 

1885 

- 

45- 

The  present  membership  is  six  thousand. 

St.  Mary's  Church  has  several  societies.  The  Sodality 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  in  1883  numbered  600  members.  The 
Confraternity  of  the  Living  Rosary  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary  had  a  membership  of  350,  and  the  Children  of  St. 
Mary  over  100.    The  church  has  also  a  Ladies'  Temperance 


164  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Society,  a  Young  Men's  Temperance  Lyceum,  and  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  Total  Abstinence  Society. 

The  officers  of  the  Young  Men's  Temperance  Society 
for  the  year  1890  were:  John  Hennesey,  President;  Corne- 
lius Coughlin,  Recording  Secretary  ;  Maurice  Connery,  Fi- 
nancial Secretary ;  Dennis  Muldoon,  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary ;  Dennis  Murray,  Treasurer ;  James  McGrath,  Sergeant- 
at-Arms. 

The  financial  statement  of  the  Church  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  for  the  year  1890  shows  receipts  of  $38,- 
990  15;  loan,  $21,036  32;  total,  $60,026  47.  All  of  this  sum 
was  expended,  $48,045  being  paid  on  the  new  church. 

The  entire  amount  paid  on  the  new  edifice  is  $56,- 
341  60.  The  debt  of  the  church  is  $21,036  32,  and  there  is 
$63,000  worth  of  insurance. 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Corley,  rector,  is  the  treasurer ;  John  F. 
Flood,  accountant.  The  auditors  were  Michael  Dee  and 
John  J.  Devitt. 

St.  Mary's  parish  is  one  of  fourteen  in  the  Archdiocese 
of  New  York  that  has  been  honored  by  making  its  Rector 
immovable  ;  that  is,  he  cannot  be  changed  unless  tried  and 
convicted  of  some  misdemeanor  by  an  ecclesiastical  court. 
In  all  the  other  parishes,  of  which  there  are  over  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  with  resident  pastors,  the  Archbishop,  of 
his  own  volition,  with  or  without  cause,  can  remove  the 
rector  or  pastor.  The  immovable  rectors  have  a  voice  in 
selecting  the  Bishop  of  a  Diocese  when  there  is  a  vacancy. 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Corley,  who  became  rector  in  1877,  still 
continues  in  charge  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  winning  the  re- 
spect of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  by  his  scholarly 
attainments  and  gentle  bearing.  He  has  succeeded  in 
clearing  the  property  from  debt.  During  his  rectorship  a 
new  church  edifice  was  begun,  the  completion  of  which 
is  expected  to  be  in  the  fall  of  1891. 

The  new  church  building  is  located  on  the  i75  W  200 
feet  lot  at  the  northwest  corner  of  South  Broadway  and  St. 
Mary's  Street.  The  building  is  of  stone,  and  will  have 
a  seating  capacity  of  i  ,400.  There  is  a  chapel  wing  to  the 
church,  capable  of  holding  150  to  200.  The  cost  of  the 
building  will  be  $125,000,  without  the  tower,  which  will  be 


ST.    MARY'S    ROMAN-CATHOLIC    CHURCH.  165 

near  the  centre  on  St.  Mary's  Street.  The  style  of  architec- 
ture is  Rounded  Arched  Gothic.  The  architect  is  Lawrence 
J.  O'Connor,  of  New  York.  The  church  when  completed 
will  be  the  finest  and  most  costly  Catholic  church  in  this 
Diocese  outside  of  New  York  city. 

On  Sunday,  May  4,  1 890,  the  blessing  and  laying  of  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  church  took  place  ;  Rt.  Rev.  Mon- 
signor  Preston  officiated.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Very  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Mooney. 

The  number  of  baptisms  in  1889  was  258.  The  number 
of  marriages  was  5 1 . 

The  attendance  at  the  various  masses  celebrated  in  St. 
Mary's  Church  on  Sunday  amounts  to  five  thousand  peo- 
ple. The  number  of  persons  confirmed  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Charles  R.  Corley  to  the  present  date,  1888,  is 
1,532. 

The  present  choir  is  composed  of  Miss  Mary  Schaeffer, 
soprano ;  Miss  Eliza  Kiley,  alto ;  J.  N.  Craft,  tenor  ;  and 
Adolph  Schaeffer,  bass,  with  a  chorus  of  twenty -three 
voices.     The  organist  is  Prof.  Bernard  E.  Johnston. 

Joseph  Hagan  is  the  present  sexton  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  and  Michael  Moran  is  the  sexton  of  St.  Mary's  Cem- 
etery. The  former  has  occupied  the  present  place  over  six 
years. 

Saint  Joseph's  Hospital,  which  was  erected  in  1889  on 
South  Broadway  on  the  site  formerly  occupied  by  St.  Aloy- 
sius  Academy,  was  the  carrying  out  of  a  project  that  first 
saw  light  in  1878,  when  the  Sisters  of  Charity  obtained  a 
charter  from  the  Legislature  for  the  purpose. 

St.  Joseph's  Hospital  was  formally  opened  on  Wednes- 
day, March  19,  1890.  It  is  under  the  management  of  the 
Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  Sister  Ann  Aloy- 
sia  being  the  Sister-in-Charge,  and  is  attended  by  the  priests 
of  the  church. 

The  medical  staff  of  St.  Joseph's  Hospital  is  as  follows : 
Dr.  P.  A.  Callen,  President ;  Dr.  N.  A.  Warren,  Secretary ; 
Drs.  Valentine  Browne  and  Samuel  Swift,  Consulting  Phy- 
sicians ;  Drs.  A.  C.  Benedict  and  P.  A.  Callen,  Consulting 
Surgeons  ;  Drs.  E.  M.  Hermance,  John  H.  Seabury,  E.  E. 
Colton,  and  J.  T.  Gibson,  Visiting  Physicians  ;  Drs.  P.  H. 


l66  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

Pyne,  Henry  Moffat,  E.  I.  Harrington,  and  N.  A.  Warren, 
Visiting  Surgeons. 

The  following  is  a  printed  report  of  St.  Mary's  Sunday- 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  April  i,  1876. 

"  The  Sunday-school  connected  with  the  Church  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  on  St.  Mary's  Street,  of  which  Rev. 
Father  Slevin  is  pastor,  is  under  the  charge  of  the  Chris- 
tian Brothers  and  Sisters  of  Charity,  and  has  a  very  large 
attendance. 

"  The  following  statistics  are  those  of  the  male  depart- 
ment only  ;  those  of  the  female  department  failed  to  reach 
us  in  time  for  publication.  Teachers  3,  scholars  on  register 
250,  average  attendance  200,  largest  attendance  235,  number 
in  primary  department  1 10,  number  of  deaths  4,  volumes 
in  library  200." 

The  teachers  are  Brothers  Simplican,  Ireeneno,  and 
Edmund.  The  number  of  pupils  contained  in  the  Sunday- 
school  connected  with  St.  Mary's  Church,  with  those  who 
came  from  Mt.  St.  Vincent  was  nearly  1,000  in  January, 

1889.  The  Sunday-school  is  under  the  charge  of  four  Chris- 
tian Brothers,  five  Sisters  of  Charity,  and  three  lay  teach- 
ers. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  Sunday-school  in  January, 

1890,  was  1,000. 

In  this  school  the  Catechism  of  Christian  Doctrine  is 
taught,  which  catechism  was  ordered  by  the  Third  Plenary 
Council  of  Baltimore.  Having  been  compiled  and  exam- 
ined, it  was  approved  by  Archbishop  Gibbons,  of  Baltimore, 
apostolic  delegate,  April  6,  1885.  Also  of  which  imprima- 
ture  was  given  by  John,  Cardinal  McCloskey,  Archbishop 
of  New  York,  at  New  York,  April  6,  1885.  The  Catholic 
hymn-book  is  also  used  and  instruction  explanatory  of  the 
catechism  is  given.  Two  sessions  are  held,  in  the  morning 
at  nine  o'clock  and  in  the  afternoon  at  two  o'clock. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  167 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   WARBURTON   AVENUE    BAPTIST    CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

The  following-  interesting  and  important  facts  con- 
cerning the  organization  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Yonkers  are  gathered  from  several  of  the  early  members 
of  the  church  and  from  a  pamphlet  which  was  prepared 
and  published  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  church 
June  30,  1869. 

"At  a  meeting  held  May  14,  1849,  ^^  ^^^  residence  of 
Benjamin  F.  Crane  on  Ashburton  Avenue  (now  the  north- 
east corner  of  Ashburton  Avenue  and  Locust  Hill  Avenue) 
Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller  (now  Rev.  Dr.  Miller)  offered  a  reso- 
lution that  a  Baptist  church  be  organized.  The  resolution 
was  adopted,  and  seven  persons  enrolled  themselves  as 
members  that  evening,  viz :  Peter  F.  Peek  and  his  wife 
Abbie  J.  Peek,  Benjamin  F.  Crane  and  his  wife  Emeline 
Crane,  George  Van  Ness,  Elias  Whipple,  and  Rev.  D. 
Henry  Miller.  A  week  later  the  following  persons  were 
added  to  the  membership  roll :  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Miller,  wife 
of  Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  Mrs.  Mary  Miller,  the  mother  of 
Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  A.  C.  Van  Ness,  Jonathan  Odell 
and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Rosina  Whipple,  Miss  Amelia  Minnerly, 
and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Chambers. 

"  Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller  was  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  to  his  congregation 
in  Flagg's  Hall.  May  23,  1849,  the  new  organization  was 
formally  recognized  by  a  council  of  members  and  dele- 
gates from  neighboring  churches." 

Evening  meetings  were  held  by  this  little  company 
and  others  some  time  previous  to  the  above  date.  The 
first  Baptist  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
Peter  F.  Peek  on  Tuesday  evening,  March  5,  1847.  At 
that  meeting  there  were  eleven  persons  present.  The  first 
sermon  preached  to  a  Baptist  audience  was  by  Rev.  John 
Dowling,  D.  D.,  a  Baptist  clergyman  of  New  York  city. 
This  service  was  held  at  Mr.  Peek's  residence  in  August, 


l68  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

1847.  The  text  was,  "Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
but  joy  Cometh  in  the  morning."     Psa.  30:  5. 

A  few  days  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  steps 
were  taken  towards  collecting  funds  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  building.  A  series  of  lectures  and  public  readings 
was  given  for  this  object.  Edwin  Forrest,  of  Forrest 
Castle,  now  Mount  St.  Vincent,  gave  a  reading  from  Shake- 
speare in  the  Getty  Lyceum  in  the  Getty  House,  in  March^ 
1853,  offering  his  services  gratuitously.  It  was  the  only 
public  reading  he  ever  gave.  The  receipts  of  that  even- 
ing's entertainment  were  $200,  a  large  amount  for  an 
entertainment  of  that  character  in  Yonkers  at  that  time. 
Other  readings  followed  this,  and  from  these  public  efforts 
quite  a  handsome  sum  was  raised  for  the  church  building 
fund,  and  a  lot  was  secured  on  North  Broadway — now  oc- 
cupied by  Temperance  Hall,  which  was  erected  by  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Yonkers — and 
the  building  was  begun.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  Octo- 
ber 24,  1850,  and  the  work  prospered  and  prospects  were 
bright  for  the  early  completion  of  the  church. 

The  following  incident  is  related  in  connection  with 
the  building  of  the  church.  One  day  in  the  early  spring- 
time, Peter  F.  Peek,  one  of  the  prominent  leaders  of  this 
enterprise,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  John  Dowling,  D.  D., 
was  crossing  the  Hudson  River  in  a  rowboat.  Suddenly 
the  sky  became  overcast,  the  wind  blew,  and  the  waves 
dashed  against  the  little  boat,  which  interrupted  the 
pleasant  conversation  in  which  they  were  engaged  about 
the  new  church  enterprise.  As  the  wind  and  waves  be- 
came contrary,  Dr.  Dowling  said  to  his  companion,  "  Dea- 
con Peek,  you  take  one  oar  and  we  will  call  that  work,  and 
I  will  take  the  other  oar  and  we  will  call  that  faith,"  where- 
upon he  took  the  oar  and  the  honored  clergyman  and  the 
good  deacon  did  their  work  nobly,  and  notwithstanding 
the  wind  and  tide,  which  were  both  against  them,  in  due 
time  they  reached  the  shore  in  safety.  Was  their  experi- 
ence prophetic  of  future  events  ? 

Not  many  days  after  this  occurrence  there  came  a 
great  wind  which  blew  down  the  rear  wall  of  the  church 
building   then   in   course   of    erection.      This   unexpected 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 


169 


catastrophe  furnished  a  theme  for  their  young  preacher 
for  a  discourse,  and  the  next  Sunday  morning  he  preached 
a  sermon  from  these  words  found  in  Ezek.  13 :  10,  1 1  :  "  One 
built  up  a  wall,  and  lo,  others  daubed  it  with  untempered 
mortar,"  etc.  The  preacher,  after  alluding  briefly  to  the 
building  of  the  church  and  the  event  which  had  recently 


MOUNT    OLIVET    BAPTIST    CHURCH.* 

transpired,  concluded  his  discourse  with  an  earnest  exhor- 
tation to  his  hearers  to  remember  that  they  were  all  build- 
*  The  engraving  shows  the  first  home  of  the  Baptists  in  Yonkers, 
which  was  situated  on  North  Broadway  between  Dock  Street  and 
Wells  Avenue  on  the  lots  where  the  Temperance  Hall  now  stands. 
Upon  the  completion  of  the  new  church  building  known  as  the  War- 
burton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  the  old  church  was  taken  down  and  the 
materials  in  it  used  for  the  erection  of  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist 
Mission  Sunday-school  building. 


170  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ers  who  were  rearing  each  the  fabric  of  his  own  life. 
Every  day  the  walls  of  the  fabric  were  rising  higher  and 
higher.  He  exhorted  them  to  see  to  it  that  what  they 
builded  should  be  silver,  gold,  and  precious  stones,  that 
might  last  and  shine  for  ever — not  the  wood,  hay,  and 
stubble  of  vanity  and  worldliness,  which  must  all  perish  in 
the  fire. 

At  length,  after  the  persistent  and  persevering  efforts 
of  the  brave  band  of  faithful  workers,  the  building  was 
completed  and  dedicated  in  1852.  It  was  a  brick  structure, 
52  by  63  feet,  with  a  square  tower  on  the  southeasterly 
corner  60  feet  high.  On  this  tower  was  a  white  marble 
tablet  bearing  this  inscription,  "  Mount  Olivet  Baptist 
Church.  Erected  to  the  Triune  God,  1852."  The  building 
contained  a  basement  which  could  accommodate  about  200 
persons,  and  the  main  audience-room  and  the  small  end 
gallery  had  seating  capacity  for  nearly  400  persons. 

One  of  the  many  interesting  meetings  held  in  this 
church  in  the  year  1858  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  journal 
of  the  late  Rev.  Robert  Kirkwood  : 

"  I  attended  a  deeply  interesting  all-day  prayer-meeting 
held  in  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  It  was  a  union 
meeting  of  the  various  churches  in  our  village.  The 
morning  service  was  peculiarly  impressive ;  the  Holy  Spirit 
with  his  all-powerful  and  all-pervading  influences  seems  to 
be  moving  the  hearts  of  the  unconverted  in  our  midst. 
The  work  of  grace  appears  to  have  begun  among  the 
young  people  and  children  of  the  Sunday-schools.  It  was 
very  interesting  to  hear  the  testimony  of  the  young  con- 
verts in  prayer  and  exhortation,  telling  of  their  newly 
found  joy  and  peace  in  the  Saviour.  Religion  is  the  theme 
among  those  who  hitherto  have  been  uninterested  in  the 
all-important  subject.  As  the  meeting  was  dismissed 
many  seemed  almost  unwilling  to  leave  the  church,  appar- 
ently held  by  an  irresistible  and  invisible  power,  and  little 
groups  lingered  in  the  aisles  and  at  the  church  door,  talk- 
ing earnestly  about  the  salvation  of  their  friends  and 
neighbors  who  are  out  of  Christ.  The  interest  on  the  sub- 
ject of  vital  religion  seems  to  be  increasing,  and  the  reli- 
gious press  is  teeming  with  accounts  of  extensive  revivals 


WARBURTON   AV?:NUE    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  171 

throughout  the  churches  of  our  land.  May  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church  bestow  upon  the  beloved  pastors  and  their 
dear  people  in  our  village  his  richest  blessing,  and  permit 
them  to  experience  in  greater  measure  the  gracious  in- 
fluence of  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit !" 

The  following  persons  were  the  members  of  the  choir 
in  the  Mount  Olivet  Church :  James  Youmans,  George  Van 
Ness,  Abram  B.  Mead,  William  Wittemore,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Mead,  Mrs.  John  A.  East,  Miss  Turner  (late  Mrs.  B.  Leeds), 
Mrs.  Charles  T.  Mercer,  Miss  W.  Whipple,  and  Miss  Sarah 
Hallet  (now  Mrs.  William  N.  Bailey).  Miss  Ella  Youmans 
was  the  organist. 

In  the  year  1863  the  building  of  a  new  church  was 
talked  of  among  a  few  of  the  members  of  this  church,  but 
no  active  or  general  movement  looking  towards  this  object 
was  made  until  the  regular  church  meeting  held  on  Octo- 
ber 2,  1867,  which  was  the  date  of  the  first  formal  proposi- 
tion and  church  action.  Months  previous  to  this,  however, 
and  in  anticipation  of  the  acceptance  by  the  church  of  the 
formal  offer,  the  lots  had  been  purchased;  and  several 
weeks  before  the  above  date  the  plans  had  been  drawn, 
the  main  contracts  had  been  awarded,  and  ground  had 
been  broken. 

At  that  meeting  a  communication  in  regard  to  this 
subject  was  read  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends 
(now  Rev.  Dr.  Behrends),  to  the  congregation,  from  John 
B.  Trevor  and  James  B.  Colgate,  and  was  as  follows: 

To  THE  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  Yonkers. 

Dear  Brethren:— Feeling  a  deep  interest  in  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  under  obligations 
to  him  for  many  blessings,  and  as  expressive  of  our  love 
for  him  and  for  the  Church  which  he  has  purchased  with 
his  own  blood,  we  propose  to  erect  and  give  to  you  a 
church  edifice  (according  to  the  plans  herewith  submitted), 
with  the  ground,  being  about  218  feet  on  Ashburton  Av- 
enue, and  204  feet,  more  or  less,  on  Warburton  Avenue, 
besides  an  additional  piece  adjoining  the  easterly  side, 
50  by  100  feet,  free  from  all  debt,  on  the  following  con- 
ditions : 


1/2  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

1.  The  church,  on  entering  into  possession,  is  to  be 
known  as  the  "  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,"  in- 
stead of  "  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church," 

2.  The  church  is  to  relinquish  to  the  undersigned  all 
its  rights,  titles,  etc.  (if  it  have  any),  to  the  eight  lots  on 
the  northerly  side  of  the  Manor  House  property. 

3.  The  church  shall  not  encumber  with  debt  or  sell 
the  said  property,  and  it  is  distinctly  agreed  betAveen  us 
that  it  is  to  be  used  as  a  Baptist  place  of  worship  for  all 
time. 

4.  The  church  is  to  use  the  said  building  and  grounds 
for  no  other  purpose  than  those  of  a  religious  character, 
all  meetings  of  a  political  or  secular  character  being  for- 
bidden to  be  held  on  the  premises. 

5.  The  church  is  to  raise  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars in  cash,  which  is  to  be  spent  in  furnishing  the  new 
edifice,  under  the  direction  of  the  architect,  E.  L.  Roberts, 
Esq.;  and  should  there  be  any  surplus,  it  is  to  be  spent 
towards  paying  for  an  organ  to  be  used  in  said  building. 

6.  In  case  of  any  dispute  arising  hereafter  as  to  what 
is  a  Baptist  church,  it  is  to  be  settled  by  the  creed  of  the 
present  church,  in  which  its  doctrines  are  fully  set  forth. 

Should  the  church  agree  to  accept  the  property  on  the 
above  conditions,  and  instruct  its  trustees  to  receive  the 
same,  we  agree  to  deposit  in  the  hands  of  F.  A.  Coe,  Esq., 
of  Yonkers,  a  deed,  to  be  held  by  him  in  trust,  and  to  be 
surrendered  to  your  trustees  on  these  conditions  being 
fully  complied  with. 

Hoping  the  above  propositions  will  meet  with  your 
approval,  and  be  favored  with  the  blessing  of  God,  we  are, 
dear  brethren. 

Very  truly  yours, 

John  B.  Trevor. 
James  B.  Colgate. 

The  communication  was  referred  to  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Brothers  Edward  Bright,  P,  F.  Peek,  and  Isaac 
G.  Johnson,  who  submitted  the  following  report,  whose 
appended  resolutions  were  unanimously  and  heartily 
adopted : 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  173 

The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  communica- 
tion of  Brothers  John  B.  Trevor  and  James  B.  Colgate,  is 
profoundly  impressed  with  the  generous  and  noble  work 
they  propose  to  do,  and  the  reasonableness  of  all  the  condi- 
tions upon  which  the  church  is  to  accept  the  gift.  Such 
a  church  edifice  as  they  intend  to  build  at  their  own  ex- 
pense will  be  more  than  impressive,  and  delightful  evidence 
of  the  estimation  in  which  they  hold  their  Christian  and 
denominational  convictions ;  it  will  also  prove  to  be,  as 
your  committee  believes,  an  inestimable  blessing  to  the 
community  in  which  it  is  to  be  located  and  to  the  cause  of 
evangelical  truth  throughout  the  world.  For  it  is  to  be, 
from  generation  to  generation,  the  spiritual  home  of  a 
living  church  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  such  a  church  is  every- 
where and  always  the  best  and  most  potent  conservative 
force  in  the  world. 

The  Christian  men  and  women  here  assembled  should, 
therefore,  accept  this  munificent  gift  of  their  brethren  with 
fervent  gratitude  to  God  and  with  no  other  thought  or 
purpose  than  to  regard  it  as  a  perpetual  argument  for  the 
existence  of  a  living,  united,  and  aggressive  church  within 
its  walls — a  church  that  shall  evermore  hold  to  and  hold 
forth  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus ;  the  truth  as  he, 
and  those  whom  he  personally  instructed,  held  and  illustra- 
ted it. 

The  committee  recommend,  therefore,  the  adoption  of 
these  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  spirit  of  the  sentiment  herein 
expressed,  and  in  the  hope  of  the  fullest  realization  of 
all  the  blessings  herein  intimated,  this  Church  does  hereby 
express  its  profound  gratitude  to  God  for  the  timely,  mu- 
nificent, and  noble  gift  proposed  by  Brothers  John  B.  Tre- 
vor and  James  B.  Colgate. 

Resolved,  That  the  Trustees  of  the  Church  and  Society 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  requested  and  instructed  to  accept 
the  conditions  on  which  Brothers  Trevor  and  Colgate  pro- 
pose to  transfer  the  deed  of  the  new  church  edifice,  and  to 
take  the  necessary  measures  to  carry  into  prompt  and  com- 
plete effect  every  condition  named  in  their  communication. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  report  be  communicated 


174  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

to  Brothers  Colgate  and  Trevor,  individually,  by  the  pastor 

and  clerk  of  the  church. 

EDWARD  BRIGHT, 
PETER  F.  PEEK, 
ISAAC  G.  JOHNSON. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  with 
appropriate  services  April  ii,  1868.  The  pastor  of  the 
church,  Rev.  A.  J.  F,  Behrends,  was  assisted  in  the  ser- 
vices by  the  Rev.  U.  T.  Tracy,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Epis- 
copal Church,  Rev.  M.  D'C.  Crawford,  pastor  of  the  First 
Methodist  Church,  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  Rev.  D.  M.  Seward,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge  (now 
Rev.  Dr.  Mudge),  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church. 

This  church  is  located  on  rising  ground  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Ashburton  and  Warburton  Avenues,-^^  and 
from  the  latter  it  derives  its  name.  It  is  built  of  Belleville 
freestone  of  a  handsome  brown  color,  and  the  roof  is  of  the 
best  quality  of  slate. 

The  length  of  the  building,  including  the  two-story 
chapel  in  the  rear,  is  1 54  feet,  and  its  width  in  front  90  feet. 
The  chapel  is  90  by  36  feet.  The  main  tower  and  spire  are 
on  the  southwesterly  corner.  This  spire  is  an  attractive 
feature  of  the  church,  and  is  a  handsome  specimen  of  archi- 
tectural work.  It  is  160  feet  high  and  is  surmounted  by  a 
beautiful  stone  cross. 

On  the  southeast  corner  is  an  octagon  tower  60  feet 
high.  The  architecture  of  the  church  is  Romanesque  or 
rounded  arched.  The  main  audience-room  is  80  by  60  feet, 
with  galleries  on  both  sides,  and  an  organ-loft  opposite  the 
pulpit.  The  church  has  a  seating  capacity  of  twelve  hun- 
dred, and  is  the  largest  church  in  the  city. 

The  ceiling  and  walls  are  handsomely  frescoed,  the 
coloring  being  of  a  subdued  tone.  The  windows  are  of 
stained  glass.  There  is  a  spacious  baptistery  under  the 
pulpit  platform,  from  which  there  are  convenient  commu- 
nications with  the  robing-rooms.  These,  with  the  church 
parlor,  37  by  32  feet,  and  the  pastor's  study,  occupy  the  first 

*  This  latter  avenue  was  named  after  the  late  William  Warburton 
Scrugham. 


WARBURTON    AVENUE    BAPTIST    CHURCH.  1 75 

floor  of  the  chapel.  On  the  second  floor  is  the  Sunday- 
school  room,  69  by  32  feet,  with  an  end  gallery  for  the  pri- 
mary department,  and  separated  from  the  main  room  by 
sliding  glass  doors. 

This  room  is  furnished  with  semi-oval  cane-bottom 
settees.  This  and  the  audience  room  are  lighted  from 
great  reflectors  in  the  ceiling.  The  Sunday-school  room 
is  frescoed  as  the  church.  Great  attention  w^as  given  to 
the  ventilation  of  this  building,  and  the  architect  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  one  of  the  best  ventilated  buildings  in  the 
country. 

The  entire  cost  of  the  building  and  appointments, 
including  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  was  nearly 
$200,000,  all  of  which,  except  the  $10,000  raised  by  the 
church,  was  contributed  by  John  B.  Trevor  and  James 
B.  Colgate. 

The  deed  of  this  superb  gift,  made  by  Messrs.  Trevor 
and  Colgate,  was  formally  presented  and  accepted  in  a 
meeting  of  the  church  held  on  June  7,  1869.  In  presenting 
the  deed,  Mr.  Colgate  spoke  as  follows : 

"  Mr.  Chairman  and  Brethren  :  About  thirty  years  since, 
in  conversation  with  my  friend  Garret  N.  Bleeker,  I  ex. 
pressed  to  him  a  hope  that  I  might  live  to  build  a  house 
of  worship  for  the  service  of  God.  This  hope,  since  then 
secretly  cherished,  is  about  to  be  fulfilled. 

"  Nothing  belongs  to  me  in  this  enterprise  which  does 
not  belong  equally  to  my  associate  and  friend,  John  B. 
Trevor. 

"  In  the  erection  of  this  house  of  worship  we  trust  we 
have  been  actuated  by  no  motives  which  will  not  bear  the 
scrutiny  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

"  We  are  not  careful  to  reply  to  those  who  may  charge 
us  with  extravagance.  Such  we  would  refer  to  the  answer 
of  our  Lord  in  reply  to  the  question,  '  Ought  not  this  oint- 
ment to  be  sold  for  more  than  two  hundred  pence  and 
given  to  the  poor  ?'  And  we  would  also  remind  such  that 
the  oldest  historical  fact  on  record  pertaining  to  public 
worship  is  that  God  had  respect  to  the  sacrifice  of  Abel, 
who  offered  the  firstlings  of  his  flock,  while  he  rejected  the 
meaner  offering  of  Cain,  as  insulting  to  his  Creator. 


176 


CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


"  In  conveying  this  property  we  have  imposed  some 
conditions,  in  which  we  think  the  Church  will  cheerfully 
acquiesce. 

"I.  The  property  cannot  be  sold,  but  must  be  used 
solely  for  a  Baptist  church. 


WARBURTON  AVENUE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 


"2.  Its  use  is  restricted  to  religious  purposes  only, 
excluding  everything  secular. 

"  3.  The  Church  is  debarred  the  right  to  encumber  the 
property. 

"  And,  brethren,  may  peace  dwell  ever  with  you.  May 
these  new  walls  never  reverberate  with  the  strife  of  breth- 
ren, but  may  they  resound  with  the  teachings  of  God's 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  177 

Word,  accompanied  with  the  notes  of  praise  and  prayer. 
May  the  interesting  associations  clustering  around  the  old 
be  transferred  to  the  new  edifice,  and  there  be  entwined 
with  dearer  and  fresher  and  more  glorious  associations  ; 
and  may  '  He  who  dwelleth  between  the  cherubim  shine 
forth  '^and  fill  the  house  with  his  glory. 

"  We  now  most  cheerfully  and  cordially  tender  to  you 
this  deed  of  the  property." 

The  pastor  responded  in  a  few  words,  and  G.  H.  Scrib- 
ner,  Esq.,  read  the  carefully  drawn  document,  which,  be- 
sides being  a  full  deed  of  conveyance,  embodies  the  com- 
plete Articles  of  Faith  of  the  Church,  adherence  to  which 
is  a  perpetual  condition  of  the  gift.  He  then  moved  the 
resolution  by  which  the  church  received  the  property — one 
of  the  largest  donations  ever  made  by  two  individuals  to  a 
church  of  Christ.  And  the  church  will  do  well  to  remember 
that  it  "  is  never  to  be  encumbered  " — which,  by  a  free  inter- 
pretation, must  mean  that  no  mortgage  is  to  rest  upon  its 
stone  and  mortar,  and  no  dead  formalism  is  to  crush  the  life 
out  of  the  worship  and  enterprise  of  which  it  is  to  be  the 
home  and  centre. 

The  church  was  dedicated  on  Sunday  morning,  June 
20,  1869.  The  pastor.  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends,  Rev.  C. 
D'W.  Bridgman,  D.  D.,  of  Albany,  and  Rev.  Edward  Bright, 
D.  D.,  of  Yonkers,  occupied  seats  on  the  pulpit  platform. 
After  the  invocation  and  the  singing  of  the  933d  hymn, 
selections  from  the  Scriptures  were  read  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bridg- 
man. The  dedicatory  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Edward  Brigbt,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  from  these  words :  "  The  glory  of  this 
latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of  the  former,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  and  in  this  place  shall  I  give  peace,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts."  Haggai  2:9.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon 
the  choir  sang  the  sentence  beginning,  "  How  beautiful 
are  Thy  dwellings,  O  Lord  of  Hosts !" 

Services  were  held  in  the  afternoon  which  began  by 
singing.  A  portion  of  Scripture  was  read  and  prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.  L.  W.  Mudge,  paStor  of  the  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church. 

By   invitation  of   the   pastor.  Rev.  M.  D'C.  Crawford 

Church  and  Sunday-ephool  Work.  J  2 


I/S  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  Rev.  David 
Cole,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  Rev. 
Thomas  A.  Jaggar,  rector  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church, 
addressed  the  audience. 

In  the  evening  the  Rev.  C.  D'W.  Bridgman,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Pearl  Street  Baptist  Church,  Albany,  preached 
from  the  text,  "  Why  sayest  thou,  O  Jacob,  and  speakest,  O 
Israel,  My  way  is  hid  from  the  Lord,  and  my  judgment  is 
passed  over  from  my  God  ?  Hast  thou  not  known,  hast 
thou  not  heard,  that  the  everlasting  God,  the  Lord,  the 
Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth,  fainteth  not,  neither  is 
weary  ?"     Isaiah  40  :  27,  28. 

A  congratulatory  meeting  was  held  in  the  audience- 
room  of  the  new  church  edifice  on  Monday  evening,  June 
21,  1869.  The  pastor.  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends,  presided  and 
after  an  appropriate  introductory  address,  on  behalf  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  this  meet- 
ing, he  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions : 

Whereas,  Our  brethren,  John  B.  Trevor  and  James  B. 
Colgate,  have  manifested  a  spirit  of  liberality  and  an  in- 
tensity of  interest  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation,  in 
the  munificent  gift  of  a  beautiful  house  of  worship  to  the 
Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  and  so  transferring  the 
same  that  the  church  cannot  fail  to  have  a  thoroughly  fur- 
nished local  habitation,  and  enjoy  the  highest  opportunities 
for  the  effective  prosecution  of  Christian  work,  as  long 
as  the  spirit  of  worship  remains  in  the  body  of  her  mem- 
bership ;  and 

Whereas,  It  is,  and  ever  must  continue  to  be,  a  matter 
of  just  village  pride  that  within  the  boundary  lines  of  our 
local  habitation  there  have  been  nourished  a  benevolence 
so  large-hearted  and  an  execution  so  painstaking,  and  that 
our  soil  has  been  honored  with  so  great  and  enduring  a 
monument  of  Christian  liberality  and  devotion  ;  and 

Whereas,  This  noble  act  of  Christian  generosity,  noble 
in  conception,  in  the  amount  of  money  expended,  in  the 
care  personally  given  to  the  enterprise,  and  in  the  free- 
heartiness  of  its  conveyance  to  the  church  for  the  use  of  a 
Baptist  house  of  worship  for  ever,  is  a  significant  expres- 
sion of  the  full  indorsement  by  our  brethren  of  the  principles 


WARBURTON    AVENUE    BAPTIST    CHURCH.  1 79 

of  the  denomination  of  which  they  are  honored  members ; 
therefore 

Resolved,  That,  as  members  of  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church  and  Congregation,  we  unite  most  cordially 
in  this  formal  expression  of  our  thorough  appreciation  of 
the  noble  generosity  of  our  brethren,  Trevor  and  Colgate, 
earnestly  praying  "  that  these  new  walls  may  never  rever- 
berate with  the  strife  of  brethren,  but  resound  with  the 
teachings  of  God's  Word,  accompanied  with  the  notes  of 
praise  and  prayer,  that  the  interesting  associations  cluster- 
ing around  the  old  may  be  transferred  to  the  new  edifice, 
and  here  be  entwined  with  dearer  and  fresher  and  more 
glorious  associations,  and  that  '  He  who  dwelleth  between 
the  cherubim '  may  shine  forth  and  fill  the  house  with  his 
glory." 

Resolved,  That,  as  citizens  of  the  village  of  Yonkers,  as 
admirers  of  the  beautiful  in  art  and  of  the  enduring  in 
construction,  as  lovers  of  good  order,  promoted  more  by 
schools  and  churches  than  by  police  and  prisons,  we  hail 
with  hearty  joy  this  noble  addition  to  the  place  of  our  hab- 
itation, and  rejoice  in  this  added  assurance  of  peaceful 
Sabbaths  and  unmolested  homes. 

Resolved,  That  we  hail  the  generous  act  of  our  brethren 
as  calculated  to  inspire  a  just  pride  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
throughout  our  broad  land  are  bound  to  them  by  ecclesias- 
tical associations,  and  as  an  eloquent  plea  to  the  men  of 
means  in  our  denomination  to  consecrate  during  life  their 
substance  to  the  Lord. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  engrossed, 
be,  by  the  committee  appointed  to  draft  the  same,  duly 
certified  and  presented  to  Messrs.  John  B.  Trevor  and 
James  B.  Colgate,  severally,  as  an  abiding  memorial  of 
this  occasion. 

John  M.  Bruce,  Jr.,  Esq.,  of  Yonkers,  moved  the  ap- 
proval and  adoption  of  the  above  resolutions.  The  motion 
having  been  seconded  by  A.  F.  Decker,  Esq.,  the  first  reso- 
lution was  responded  to,  on  behalf  of  the  church,  by  the 
Rev.  Edward  Bright,  D.  D.,  editor  of  the  "  Examiner  and 
Chronicle."  William  Allen  Butler,  Esq.,  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Yonkers,  responded  by  invitation  of  the 


l8o  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

committee,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  prominent  citizens  not 
members  of  the  church  or  of  the  congregation,  to  the  sec- 
ond resolution. 

The  Rev.  J.  R.  Kendrick,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Taber- 
nacle Baptist  Church  of  New  York  city,  responded  to  the 
third  resolution,  on  behalf  of  the  denomination. 

Rev.  Dr.  Kendrick  closed  his  address  as  follows : 

"  Standing  in  this  beautiful  temple  of  religion,  just 
dedicated  to  the  highest  of  purposes,  I  almost  envy  the 
men  who  have  loved  their  principles  and  their  people  so 
well  as  to  build  for  them  a  synagogue,  who  have  had  the  ' 
money  and  the  grace  to  set  so  sublime  an  example.  They 
have  reared  for  themselves  a  monument  more  noble  than 
the  proudest  mausoleum  which  bereaved  affection,  aided 
though  it  were  by  royal  treasures,  could  construct.  Would 
you  see  that  monument  ?  Look  around.  Blessings  on  them  ! 
Blessings  on  their  basket  and  their  store,  their  homes 
and  offices  and  commercial  transactions !  So  long  as 
they  continue  rich  in  grace,  and  in  this  grace  of  giving,  I 
care  not  how  freely  they  receive  and  how  opulent  they 
become. 

"  And  blessings  on  you,  my  brother,  the  pastor  of  this 
flock,  and  on  the  church  and  congregation  that  are  the 
favored  and  grateful  recipients  of  this  extraordinary  gener- 
osity. Peace  be  ivitJiin  these  walls !  For  my  brethren  and 
companions  sake  throughout  the  land  I  will  now  say.  Peace 
be  within  you  .■'" 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  and  enthusiastically 
approved  and  adopted  by  a  rising  vote.  The  Doxology  was 
then  sung,  and  the  congregation  was  dismissed. 

The  new  edifice  was  dedicated  on  what  is  known  in 
the  Episcopal  communion  as  St.  John's  Day,  and  the  follow- 
ing poem,  commemorative  of  the  event,  was  written  by 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Uhl,  of  Yonkers : 


The  day  of  good  St.  John 
With  fervid  splendors  shone, 

DistilHng  sweets  from  every  rose  of  June; 
Blue  waters  laughed  in  light, 
Blue  ether  wooed  the  flight 

Of  birds,  whose  matin  songs  were  all  in  tune 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH,  l8l 

This  day  of  summer  days 

Its  purple  pomp  displays 
To  grace  a  gift  more  regal  than  its  own ; 

For  Nature's  wealthiest  dole 

Shows  poor  beside  the  soul 
Of  "cheerful  giving,"  which  His  love  doth  crown. 

More  sweet  than  rose  of  June, 

Than  bird-song  more  in  tune. 
Than  sky  or  water  brighter  and  more  fair ; 

This  dual  gift  shines  forth, 

And  for  its  noble  worth 
Claims  in  all  Christian  hearts  their  thanks  to  share. 

John-Baptist's  holy  day, 

Its  benediction  lay 
Upon  the  doers  of  this  generous  deed  ; 

And  may  the  holy  spell 

Rest  on  their  work  as  well — 
All  Christian  hearts  must  pray  for  it,  "  God  speed." 

The  successive  pastors  of  this  church  have  been :  Rev. 
D.  Henry  Miller— settled  1849;  resigned  1857.  Rev.  J..R. 
Scott — settled  1858;  resigned  September  5,  i860.  Rev.  J. 
C.  C.  Clarke — settled  October  24,  1861  ;  resigned  February 
24,  1865.  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends — settled  July  27,  1865  ; 
resigned  June  6,  1873.  Rev.  William  T.  Burns — settled 
May  20,  1874;  resigned  October  2,  1875.  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Sanders — settled  September  28,  1876;  resigned  December 
I,  1 88 1.  Rev.  Edward  P.  Farnham — settled  March  i, 
1883;  resigned  1886.  Rev.  H.  B.  Grose,  acting  pastor,  Oc- 
tober, 1887,  to  April,  1888. 

Rev.  Dr.  Alvah  S.  Hobart  resigned  the  pastorate  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Toledo,  Ohio,  to  accept  that  of 
the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Yonkers,  in  June, 
i888. 

Rev.  Alvah  Sabin  Hobart  was  born  at  Whitby,  Canada 
West,  March  7,  1847,  of  Charles  and  Pathenia  Hobart,  citi- 
zens of  Vermont.  He  is  the  grandson  of  Rev.  Alvah 
Sabin,  who  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Georgia, 
Vt.,  for  fifty-two  years.  He  was  converted  in  the  spring  of 
1868  at  Georgia,  Vt.,  and  baptized  by  Rev.  L.  A.  Dunn  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Fairfax  Church  in  the  autumn  of  that 
year;  graduated  at  Madison  (now  Colgate)  University  in 
1873 ;   and  from   the    Hamilton  Theological   Seminary  in 


1 82  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK, 

1875  ;  ordained  June  30,  1875  ;  began  his  first  pastorate  at 
Morris,  N,  Y.,  August  30,  1874,  while  in  the  Seminary; 
married,  September  of  that  year,  Miss  Mary  Katie  Bancroft, 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  John  D.  and  Laura  B.  Bancroft,  of  Har- 
persville,  N.  Y.  In  March,  1879,  he  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  take  the  pastorate  of  the  Mount  Auburn  church, 
and  from  there  to  the  First  Church,  Toledo,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber I,  1885.  The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  by  Deni- 
son  University,  Ohio,  in  1887. 

"  His  pastorates  have  all  been  successful — eminently  so 
was  his  last  one,  as  evidenced  by  large  additions  to  the 
church.  In  his  pastorate  of  three  years  he  baptized  1 1 1 
and  received  on  experience  and  letters  49.  The  morning 
and  evening  audiences  were  larger  than  ever  before.  The 
people  of  his  Toledo  church  are  earnest  and  active,  main- 
taining the  largest  church  prayer-meeting  in  that  city.  Dr. 
Hobart  entered  upon  his  ministerial  work  in  Yonkers  on 
Sunday,  August  19,  1888.  " 

Rev.  Dr.  Hobart's  labors  as  pastor  of  this  church  have 
been  followed  with  blessed  results.  He  is  active,  earnest, 
and  aggressive  in  his  pulpit  and  pastoral  work.  As  an 
expositor  of  the  truths  of  the  Bible  he  is  practical  and 
instructive,  emphatically  independent  in  thought  and  utter- 
ance, and  bold  in  the  declaration  of  his  principles.  "  His 
marked  individuality  and  independency  of  thought  is  inter- 
blended  with  large-heartedness  and  warm  sympathies.  His 
sermons  are  clear  and  didactic,  intensely  practical,  dealing 
with  the  heart  and  conscience,  full  of  beauty,  instruction, 
encouragement,  and  religious  power,  and  leading  the  un- 
converted directly  to  Christ. 

Under  his  ministrations  the  congregation  is  enlarging. 
The  additions  to  the  membership  of  the  church  during  his 
pastorate  to  this  date,  October,  1890,  are  109.  The  church 
in  August,  1889,  changed  the  plan  of  support  and  adopted 
a  financial  plan  which  was  suggested  by  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Dr.  Hobart. 

The  plan  in  its  results  has  been  extremely  gratifying 
and  successful  thus  far  beyond  all  expectations.  At  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  church  held  January  23,  1890,  the 
trustees  reported  the  expenses  for  the  year  all  met  and  the 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  1 83 

receipts  from  rentals  and  subscriptions  $900  more  than  last 
year,  1889. 

The  contributions  to  benevolence,  exclusive  of  some 
large  individual  gifts,  for  the  year  ending  December,  1 889, 
amounted  to  $3,955  12;  for  the  Sunday-schools,  $371  15; 
total,  $4,326  27. 

The  Women's  Missionary  Circle  connected  with  this 
church  was  organized  in  1873.  Its  membership  is  seventy- 
five,  and  their  annual  contribution  at  this  writing,  October, 
1890,  is  $500.  Its  officers  are:  Mrs.  C.  E.  Okell,  President; 
Miss  Caroline  Tripler,  Vice-President ;  Miss  Mary  Colgate, 
Treasurer ;  Miss  Hattie  Middlebrook,  Assistant  Treasurer. 

A  Woman's  Union  Prayer-meeting  was  organized  by 
Mrs.  Livingston  Willard  and  Mrs.  William  Affleck  March 
12,  1876.  The  meetings  were  held  weekly  in  the  parlor  of 
this  church  for  three  years.  They  were  full  of  interest, 
and  were  seasons  of  great  spiritual  refreshment  to  all  who 
attended  them. 

The  church  has  a  "  Committee  on  Visitation  and  Infor- 
mation, through  which  they  seek  to  find  and  interest  peo- 
ple in  their  work,  to  make  a  welcome  for  strangers ;  to  visit 
the  sick;  and  to  persuade  people  to  accept  the  Saviour. 
Hundreds  of  visits  have  been  made  to  the  sick  and  sorrow- 
ing, the  stranger  and  the  wanderer,  besides  many  that  are 
only  the  expression  of  common  Christian  fellowship.  It  is 
all  the  outgrowth  of  the  Woman's  Prayer-meeting,  which 
is  held  every  Thursday  at  3  P.  m." 

The  following  ladies  are  the  committee  on  informa- 
tion and  visitation :  Mrs.  A.  S.  Hobart,  Chairman ;  Mrs. 
Wm.  Holme,  Secretary ;  Mrs.  William  Affleck,  Mrs.  James 
Affleck,  Mrs.  Okell,  Mrs.  Corwin,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Sherwood,  Mrs. 
Simpson,  Mrs.  William  N.  Bailey,  Mrs.  Odell,  Miss  Matilda 
Fuller,  and  Mrs.  Sykes. 

The  officers  and  Committees  of  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church  for  1 890  and  1 89 1  are  as  follows :  Deacons, 
James  B.  Colgate,  William  Holme,  Isaac  G.  Johnson,  Wil- 
lim  N.  Bailey,  Samuel  Dinsmore  ;  Treasurer  of  the  Church, 
W.  Holme;  Clerk,  B.  F.  Bogart ;  Assistant  Clerk,  Rich- 
ard Edie,  Jr. ;  Treasurer  of  Poor  Fund,  J.  W.  Ackerman  ; 
Assistant   Treasurers  of  Poor   Fund,  Luke  Simpson   and 


184  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Sherwood ;  Committee  on  Systematic  Benevo- 
lence, I.  G.  Johnson,  W.  H.  Baldwin  and  J.  G.  Affleck ; 
Committee  on  Music,  J.  B.  Trevor,  E.  O.  Carpenter,  and 
C.  D.  Wyman ;  Advisory  Committee,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  S.  Ho- 
bart,  James  B.  Colgate,  William  Holme,  Isaac  G.  Johnson, 
William  N.  Bailey,  Samuel  Dinsmore,  B.  F.  Bogart,  C.  D. 
Wyman,  E.  L.  Manning,  and  C.  H.  Callahan ;  Committee 
on  Baptisms,  J.  W.  Arbuckle,  W.  F.  Corwin,  Mrs.  W.  F. 
Corwin,  Mrs.  R.  O.  Phillips,  and  Mrs.  Westcott ;  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Holme,  Women's  Meeting  and  Work  ;  James  Howes, 
Young  People's  Association  ;  B.  F.  Bogart,  Committee  on 
Benevolence  ;  Committee  on  Seating,  W.  F.  Corwin  and 
Edward  O.  Carpenter ;  Collector,  J.  G.  Affleck. 

Board  of  Trustees :  John  B.  Trevor,*  William  Affleck, 
John  W.  Ackerman,  James  B.  Colgate,  Isaac  W.  Maclay, 
William  H.  Belknap,  E.  O.  Carpenter,  Isaac  G.  Johnson, 
and  W.  F.  Corwin. 

Officers  of  the  Board:  James  B.  Colgate,  President; 
W.  H.  Belknap,  Secretary ;  E.  O.  Carpenter,  Treasurer. 

The  organist  is  Willard  Carpenter,  who  has  occupied 
that  position  since  1880.  The  choir  is  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons :  Miss  Bertha  Odell,  Miss  Lane,  Miss  Griggs, 
and  Miss  Sherwood,  soprano ;  Miss  Emma  Crowther,  Miss 
May  Tarbell,  and  Miss  Grace  King,  contralto ;  L.  A.  Chase 
and  J.  Olivet  Kipp,  tenor ;  William  T.  C.  Carpenter  and  W. 
G.  Youmans,  bass. 

"  The  Gleaner  "  is  the  title  of  a  monthly  paper  which 
is  published  by  the  church  under  the  direction  of  the  pas- 

*  Deceased  December  2,  1890. 
Early  in  January,  1891,  the  trustees  received  the  following  communi- 
cation from  Mr.  Henry  G.  Trevor  : 

"  Dear  Brethren  : — Wishing  to  honor  the  memory  of  my  father,  and 
to  continue  the  prosperity  of  the  church  he  loved,  I  wish  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing proposition :  If  the  church  will  consent,  I  will  build  a  parsonage, 
and  give  the  same  to  the  church,  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  present  church 
lot.  The  building  shall  be  made  after  plans  by  a  competent  architect, 
and  will  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  not  less  than  $15, 000." 

Plans  for  the  new  parsonage  have  been  accepted  by  Mr.  Henry  G. 
Trevor,  costing  several  thousands  more  than  the  generous  offer  at  first 
made,  and  he  has  sent  a  communication  to  the  trustees  saying  that  he  is 
now  awaiting  their  advice  in  locating  the  house  on  the  lot  before  taking 
the  final  steps  for  the  contract. — The  Gleaner. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  1 85 

tor,  Alvah  S.  Hobart,  D.  D.  The  first  issue  of  this  church 
paper  was  in  February,  1 890. 

The  present — March,  1891 — resident  membership  of 
this  church  is  569. 

The  first  pulpit  Bible  of  this  church  is  now  in  use  in 
the  parlor  of  the  church.  It  is  a  Bagster  Bible,  and  on  the 
title-page  is  printed,  "  Republished  by  the  American  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  1847."  Oii  the  cover  is  inscribed, 
"  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church."  The  second  pulpit  Bible 
is  now  used  as  the  chapel  Bible.  On  it  is  inscribed  these 
words:  "Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  August,  i860." 
The  third  pulpit  Bible  now  in  the  church  has  the  following 
inscription  in  old  English :  "  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist 
Church,  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  June,  1869." 

The  communion-service  of  this  church  consists  of  four 
goblets,  four  plates,  and  one  tankard.  The  tankard  for- 
merly belonged  to  the  first  communion  set  used  in  the 
Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  Two  of  the  plates,  which 
are  of  solid  silver,  were  presented  to  the  church  by  the 
rector  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  of  Yonkers,  Rev.  A. 
B.  Carter,  D,  D.,  and  his  congregation.  On  the  border  of 
the  plates  are  these  texts  of  Scripture  :  "  Behold  how  good 
and  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity." 
"  Peace  be  within  thy  walls  and  prosperity  within  thy  pal- 
aces." In  the  centre  of  the  plates  is  inscribed :  "  The  Rec- 
tor and  Congregation  of  St.  John's  Church  to  the  Pastor 
and  Congregation  of  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church. 
The  Christian  courtesy  and  brotherly  kindness  which 
prompted  the  offer  of  their  church  building  during  the 
time  St.  John's  Church  was  undergoing  repairs*  will  ever 
be  held  in  grateful  remembrance.  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  1853." 
Two  goblets,  lined  with  gold,  and  two  plates,  which  are  of 
solid  silver,  were  the  gift  of  John  B.  Trevor ;  there  are  also 
two  goblets  and  two  plates  the  gift  of  James  B.  Colgate,  on 
the  former  is  inscribed  :  "  Presented  to  the  Warburton  Av- 
enue Baptist  Church,  Yonkers,  by  John  B.Trevor,  1876;" 
on  the  latter,  "  Presented  to  the  Warburton  Avenue  Bap- 
tist Church,  Yonkers,  by  James  B.  Colgate,  1876." 

*  The  congregation  of   St.  John's  Church  held  their  services  in  the 
evening  in  the  Mount  Ohvet  Baptist  Church. 


l86  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  church  ushers :  W.  H.  Belknap,  J,  W.  Ackerman, 
W.  F.  Corwin,  W.  W.  Middlebrook,  Carroll  Moore,  and  B. 
G.  Westcott. 

The  sexton  of  this  church  is  Michael  Dearman,  who 
has  served  in  that  capacity  for  twenty-four  years. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  church  for  the  election  of 
officers  is  held  in  December,  and  the  officers  and  commit- 
tees make  reports  of  their  work  in  January. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  celebrated  the 
first  Sabbath  morning  in  each  month. 

General  prayer-meeting  Wednesday  evening  at  8 
o'clock. 

Sabbath  services  at  10:45  a.  m.  and  7:  30  P.  M. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

One  morning  in  the  month  of  May  in  the  year  1849, 
under  the  village  chestnut-trees,  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Neperah  River  (or  rapid  waters),  Benjamin  Franklin  Crane, 
Elias  Whipple,  Jonathan  Odell,  Peter  F.  Peek,  and  George 
Van  Ness  talked  the  first  Baptist  Sunday-school  of  Yonkers 
into  existence. 

As  the  result  of  this  conference  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Sunday-school  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Peter  F. 
Peek  down  by  the  river-side,  in  the  building  now  the  St. 
John's  Riverside  Hospital,  on  Woodworth  Avenue.  At 
this  meeting  there  were  present  as  teachers  Miss  Amelia 
Minnerly,  George  Van  Ness,  Benjamin  F.  Crane,  and  Peter 
F.  Peek,  and  five  pupils.  On  the  Sunday  following  they 
met  in  a  building  called  Flagg's  Hall,  located  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Palisade  Avenue  and  New  Main  Street — 
then  Factory  and  Mechanic  Streets. 

This  building  was  the  first  public  hall  erected  in  Yon- 
kers, and  was  put  up  and  owned  by  Ethan  Flagg.  It  was 
in  this  hall,  on  May  14,  1849,  that  the  formal  organization 
of  the  first  Baptist  Sunday-school  in  Yonkers  was  effected. 
There  were  present  as  teachers  George  Van  Ness,  Mrs. 
Van  Ness,  Miss  Minnerly,  and  Peter  F.  Peek,  and  seven 
pupils.  Benjamin  F.  Crane  was  elected  superintendent. 
The  number  of  teachers  and  pupils  increased  every  Sun- 
day until  the  room  was  well  filled  at  the  end  of  the  first  year. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  187 

Into  the  new  Mt.  Olivet  Church  building  the  Sunday- 
school  entered  on  the  day  of  its  dedication.  The  school 
numbered  at  this  time  about  200  pupils.  The  pastor's  wife, 
Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Miller,  had  a  class  of  twelve  young  ladies. 
Among  the  number  were  the  late  Mrs.  Isaiah  Anderson, 
Miss  Manetta  Minnerly,  Miss  Whipple,  and  Miss  Adelia 
Kniffin  (now  Mrs.  William  P.  Drummon).  The  latter  sub- 
sequently became  the  teacher  of  the  infant  class,  ten  in 
number.  The  exercises  in  this  little  class  consisted  of  the 
recitation  of  hymns  from  the  Psalmist  (then  the  church 
hymn-book),  the  Sunday-school  hymn-book.  Scripture  ver- 
ses which  they  memorized  at  home,  and  instruction  in  the 
articles  of  faith  adopted  by  this  church.  Isaiah  Anderson 
was  an  efficient  and  faithful  secretary  of  this  school.  His 
term  of  service  in  connection  with  the  Sunday-school  in 
the  Mount  Olivet  Church  and  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Church  was  seven  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  treasurer  of  the  church  for  eighteen 
years. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  taught  a  large 
class  of  young  men.  The  teachers  of  the  Mount  Olivet 
Sunday-school,  in  addition  to  those  who  taught  in  Flagg's 
Hall,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  were :  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Miles,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Knowles,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robert  F.  Rich,  N.  P.  Odell,  and  Mrs.  B.  Leeds.  And 
those  who  taught  at  a  still  later  period  were:  John  B. 
Trevor,  Mrs.  Trevor,*  James  B.  Colgate,  and  Mrs.  Colgate. 

*  Mrs.  Louisa  S.  S.  Trevor,  for  many  years  an  active  and  useful  mem- 
ber of  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  was  an  esteemed  and  very  suc- 
cessful teacher  in  this  school.  She  had  charge  of  a  class  of  young  ladies 
who  were  devotedly  attached  to  her  and  by  whom  she  is  joyfully  and  lov- 
ingly remembered,  because  through  her  instructions  they  were  led  to  love 
the  Saviour.  Said  one  who  was  her  pupil :  "  Mrs.  Trevor's  teachings 
were  always  attractive,  never  monotonous,  and  she  showed  by  her  walk 
and  conversation  that  her  own  heart  had  been  touched  with  the  influence 
of  that  which  she  endeavored  to  teach  us.  She  always  seemed  to  feel  the 
importance  and  responsibility  of  her  work."  Mrs.  Trevor  was  an  invalid 
during  the  closing  years  of  her  life,  and  in  the  last  weeks  and  days  of  her 
illness  she  was  a  great  but  patient  sufferer,  throughout  which  God  sus- 
tained her,  and  her  final  hour  brought  glory  to  him.  A  choice  memorial 
tablet  of  the  finest  Aberdeen  granite  is  firmly  set  in  the  southerly  wall  of 
the  main  audience-room  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  near 
the  southeasterly  corner,  and  a  marble  vase  and  flowers  of  purest  vein. 


l88  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  Sunday-school  met  in  the  audience-room  of  the 
church  until  the  basement  was  completed,  about  1853-4, 
and  then  met  in  the  basement  until  the  new  church  on 
Warburton  Avenue  was  ready  for  use,  in  the  year  1869. 

The  last  day  the  Sunday-school  met  in  the  Mount 
Olivet  Church  was  on  the  morning  of  June  20,  1869. 

Superintendent  Heman  L.  White  read  resolutions  ex- 
pressive of  their  gratitude  and  appreciation  to  John  B.  Tre- 
vor and  James  B.  Colgate  for  providing  for  them  the  new 
Sunday-school  room  which  they  were  about  to  enter. 
These  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a  standing  vote,  after 
which  a  handsome  blue  silk  banner — a  gift  from  the  super- 
intendent— was  presented  to  the  school.     The  donor  said  : 

"  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  present  to  you  to-day  this 
beautiful  banner  which  we  will  follow  from  our  old  to  our 
new  home.  May  we  through  life  follow  the  banner  of 
Jesus,  esteeming  it  our  greatest  honor  and  highest  joy." 

After  the  presentation  of  the  banner,  the  teachers  and 
pupils  with  the  members  of  the  Spring  Street  Baptist  Mis- 
sion Sunday-school  (now  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist 
Mission  Sunday-school),  formed  a  procession  numbering 
some  600  and  marched  with  their  banner  floating  to  the 
breeze  to  their  new  chapel  in  the  Warburton  Avenue  Bap- 
tist Church.  The  officers  who  accompanied  the  children 
in  the  joyful  procession  to  the  new  church,  and  who  were 

exquisitely  carved,  set  in  a  projecting  Gothic  marble  frame  and  fronting 
the  encased  tablet,  seems  to  perpetuate  in  silent,  solid  stone  the  delicate 
fragrance  of  her  pure  Christian  life.  The  tablet  bears  the  following 
inscription  : 

In  ]VIemory  of 

LOUISA  S.   STEWART 

WIFE  OF 

JOHN  B.  TREVOR. 

Born  May  21,  1836. 

Entered  into  rest 

September   7,    1867. 

Unwavering    in    her    faith, 

SHE   died   rejoicing    IN 

THE  Saviour. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  1 89 

connected  with  the  Mount  Olivet  School,  so  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  were : 

Heman  L.  White,  Superintendent ;  I.  Robert  Ayres, 
Secretary ;  Isaiah  Anderson,  Treasurer ;  George  Umphray, 
Librarian  ;  William  N.  Anderson,  first  assistant  Librarian ; 
Edward  Ferris,  second  assistant  Librarian,  The  teachers 
were :  R.  Button,  John  W.  Ackerman,  Thomas  Holman, 
William  N.  Bailey,  Cornelius  W.  Peek,  A.  F.  Westcott, 
Mrs.  James  B.  Colgate,  A.  F.  Decker,  Miss  Julia  A.  Sanger, 
Miss  Hattie  R.  Umphray,  Miss  Alice  Taggard,  Miss  Lucy 
White,  Miss  Amanda  Cotton,  and  Mr.  J.  A.  Van  Wagner. 

The  Superintendent,  teachers,  and  scholars  were  met 
at  the  chapel  Sunday-school  room  by  Messrs.  Colgate  and 
Trevor. 

The  programme  of  exercises  was  as  follows:  Volun- 
tary. Addresses  of  welcome  by  Messrs.  Colgate  and 
Trevor.  Reports  of  former  Superintendents.  Original 
hymn,  "Sing,  O  sing."  Brief  addresses  by  Superintendent 
and  others.     Singing,  "  Sabbath  Joys."' 

James  B.  Colgate  spoke  as  follows : 

"Mr.  Superintendent,  Teachers,  and  Scholars: 
We  welcome  you  most  heartily  to  this  new  Sabbath  home. 
Your  looks  and  smiles  indicate  a  joyful  response  to  this 
sentiment.  The  house  we  have  just  left  is  endeared  to  us 
by  tender  recollections  of  the  past.  If  the  ground  was  hal- 
lowed where  God  spoke  to  Moses  from  out  of  the  burning 
bush,  ought  not  that  spot  to  be  loved  by  us  where  we  have 
so  often  met  our  Saviour  and  where  he  has  spoken  peace 
to  so  many  stricken  hearts  ?  Some  now  present  can  recall 
the  time  when  we  met,  few  in  numbers  and  under  circum- 
stances greatly  discouraging.  But  even  then  God  had  a 
blessing  in  reserve  for  us.  Year  by  year  we  grew  stronger, 
and  when  that  place  was  too  small  to  hold  our  increasing 
numbers  He  provided  us  with  this,  suited  to  our  present 
necessities,  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  and  where  the 
eye  rests  satisfied.  The  possession  of  this  house  imposes 
heavier  responsibilities  ;  but,  sir,  there  is  no  dignity  in  life 
without  responsibility.  God,  the  church,  and  the  school 
will  expect  of  us  a  consistency  of  life  and  devotedness  of 
purpose  corresponding  to  the  position  we   assume.     God 


190  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

requires  of  us  that  we  teach  his  truth  in  simplicity  with 
earnestness  and  godly  fear.  The  church  requires  that  we 
be  ourselves  examples  to  the  children  of  truth  and  sobriety, 
keeping-  the  Sabbath  as  God's  day  and  living  in  all  respects 
conformably  to  the  gospel  we  profess  to  teach.  The  school 
requires  of  us  no  idle  words,  no  vain  shows  unbecoming 
the  house  of  God,  but  a  decency  and  propriety  which  their 
young  minds  will  not  be  slow  to  discern.  These  responsi- 
bilities each  must  meet  for  himself.  My  own  heart  re- 
sponds to  the  utterance  of  Joshua  of  old  in  the  presence  of 
assembled  Israel :  'As  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve 
the  Lord.'  Again  we  say  to  you,  you  are  welcome,  thrice 
welcome,  to  this  house  about  to  be  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  the  Most  High  God.  May  it  prove  to  many  who  now 
hear  me  agate  to  that  upper  sanctuary,  to  that  'building 
of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.'  " 

John  B.  Trevor  said  : 

"  Dear  Children  : — In  welcoming  you  to  this  beautiful 
room  I  am  reminded  of  the  old  Spanish  custom  of  offering 
a  visitor  all  the  house  contains ;  and  we  now  offer  you  all 
the  accommodations  afforded  by  this  building,  including 
its  furniture  and  other  appliances,  as  a  free  gift  to  you. 
We  hope,  also,  that  you  will  consider  this  as  your  Sunday 
home,  and  that  you  will  once  a  week  greet  your  teachers 
here  just  as  some  of  you  every  day  welcome  your  fathers 
when  they  return  from  their  business  in  the  city.  You 
will  also  be  offered  here  by  your  teachers  and  superin- 
tendent every  Sunday  far  more  valuable  gifts  than  those 
now  presented  to  you — I  mean  the  great  truths  taught  in 
God's  Word.  And  the  only  return  we  all  ask  of  you  is, 
that  you  will  show  a  due  appreciation  of  these  latter  gifts, 
which  we  hope  will  be  blessed  to  the  salvation  of  your 
souls.  You  must  not,  however,  selfishly  consider  all  that 
has  been  done  as  done  only  to  benefit  you,  but  we  hope 
you  will  realize  that  the  glory  of  God  has  been  our  chief 
incentive,  and  that  without  his  aid  and  blessing  all  our 
labor  will  be  in  vain." 

These  addresses  of  welcome  were  responded  to  by 
Superintendent  White  as  follows : 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  igr 

"  We  have  listened  with  grateful  emotions  to  the  cordial 
words  of  welcome  with  which  you  have  greeted  us,  and  on 
behalf  of  the  school  I  thank  you.  God  has  blessed  us  in 
the  past  and  he  smiles  upon  us  to-day.  Seven  years  ago, 
my  first  Sabbath  in  Yonkers,  I  came  to  this  school  where 
you  with  your  wives  were  teaching.  Three  are  with  us 
to-day  and  one  has  gone  before  us  to  the  "  rest  that  re- 
maineth."  Our  numbers,  then  about  70,  are  now  nearly 
700  and  divided  in  two  bands.  The  Spring  Street  Mission, 
a  child  of  six  summers  and  now  outnumbering  the  old 
school,  is  here  to-day,  and  prepared,  through  its  efficient 
superintendent,  to  speak  for  itself.  Our  hearts  are  full  of 
joy  and  rejoicing  while  we  say,  '  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  but 
to  thy  name  be  all  the  glory.'  We  have  just  been  down  to 
say  good-by  to  the  old  home,  and  the  children  and  teachers 
have  given  me  a  message,  a  heartfelt  message,  to  deliver 
to  you,  which  I  will  now  do." 

The  Superintendent  then  read  the  following  resolu- 
tions adopted  by  the  school,  and  presented  a  copy  of  the 
same  to  Messrs.  Colgate  and  Trevor,  severally : 

Resolved,  That  under  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude  to  God 
who  has  watched  over  and  so  abundantly  blessed  our  Sab- 
bath-school, we  desire  to  return  our  grateful  thanks  to  him, 
the  author  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  who  has  given 
to  our  brethren  and  fellow-teachers,  John  B.  Trevor  and 
James  B.  Colgate,  the  ability  and  the  willing  hearts  to  pro- 
vide for  us  this  delightful  Sabbath-school  home. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  our  two  brethren  the 
heartfelt  thanks  of  every  one  of  our  three  hundred  teachers 
and  scholars,  and  we  pray  God  to  bless  them  a  hundred- 
fold for  this  their  great  gift  to  us. 

Resolved,  That  this  expression  of  our  gratitude  be  pre- 
sented to  our  two  beloved  associates  by  the  Superintendent 
of  our  school. 

William  M.  Gray,  a  former  Superintendent  of  the  church 
school,  then  followed  in  a  few  congratulating  remarks. 

Rev.  Dr.  Bright,  Superintendent  of  the  Mission  School, 
said  he  shared  with  them  the  joy  and  gladness  which  they 
felt  on  this  day,  and  that  he  felt  justly  proud  of  the  two 
bands  which  Brother  White  had  mentioned. 


192  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends,  also  spoke  words 
of  welcome  to  the  school,  and  expressed  the  gratitude  he 
felt,  and  doubtless  all  felt,  to  the  Great  Giver  from  whom 
cometh  down  every  good  and  perfect  gift. 

The  singing  of  the  "  Children's  Te  Deum "  closed 
these  delightful  exercises  of  the  first  day  in  the  Sunday- 
school  room. 

Heman  L.  White  continued  to  be  Superintendent  until 
July  18,  1869,  when  illness  compelled  him  to  be  away. 
Mr.  Grimwood  superintended  the  school  during  his  ab- 
sence. Mr.  White  never  attended  the  school  after  the 
above  mentioned  date.  On  Sunday  evening,  September  19, 
1869,  he  passed  "beyond  the  regions  of  the  skies  to  where 
the  heavenly  country  lies."  On  the  Wednesday  following, 
his  funeral  was  largely  attended,  and  his  remains  were  fol- 
lowed to  the  depot  by  a  large  concourse  of  friends  and  the 
members  of  the  school,  who  walked  in  procession.  The 
remains  were  interred  in  Greenwood  Cemetery.  The  Sun- 
day-school room  was  heavily  draped  in  mourning  and  this 
inscription  was  suspended  behind  the  superintendent's 
desk :  "  He  rests  from  his  labors  and  his  works  do  follow 
him." 

Thus  the  school,  in  a  few  brief  months,  from  the 
heights  of  joy  was  plunged  into  the  depths  of  sorrow. 

And  the  smiles  and  the  tears  and  the  song  and  the  dirge 
Followed  each  other  like  surge  upon  surge. 

An  election  to  fill  the  vacancy  created  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  White  was  held  on  Sunday,  October  24,  1869,  and  Wil- 
liam Holme  was  unanimously  chosen  Superintendent. 

Mr.  Holme  was  on  a  Western  tour  when  he  received 
the  notice  of  his  election  to  the  superintendency,  and  the 
intelligence  came  to  him  as  a  pleasant  surprise.  He  had 
been  for  six  years  the  Superintendent  of  the  Berean  Bap- 
tist Sunday-school  in  New  York.  He  entered  upon  his 
duties  with  the  enthusiasm  and  energy  which  had  always 
characterized  his  work.  His  term  of  service  as  Superin- 
tendent of  this  school  was  thirteen  years.  During  these 
years  he  several  times  declined  a  re-election,  as  his  busi- 
ness engagements  necessitated  his  frequent  absence  from 


WARBURTON    AVENUE   BAPTIST    CHURCH.  I93 

the  city,  but  the  school,  appreciative  of  his  valuable  ser- 
vices, positively  refused  to  accept  his  declination,  and  dur- 
ing his  absence  his  place  was  temporarily  filled  by  others. 
When  Mr.  Holme  was  absent  he  always  kept  himself  in- 
formed of  the  work  in  the  school  by  correspondence,  and 
he  was  ever  on  the  alert  to  encourage  and  help  forward 
Sunday-school  work  and  workers  wherever  he  chanced 
to  be. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  printed  report  of  the 
school  during  the  centennial  year,  December,  1876  :  Officers, 
5  ;  teachers,  25  ;  scholars  on  registers,  250;  average  attend- 
ance, 170;  largest  attendance,  215  ;  conversions,  23;  deaths 
(teachers),  2;  volumes  in  library,  1,052;  receipts,  $728  44; 
expenditures,  $609  09. 

The  officers  of  the  school  are :  Wm.  H,  Holme,  Super- 
intendent ;  A.  F.  Decker,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  W. 
Affleck,  Jr.,  Secretary ;  J.  W.  Ackerman,  Treasurer ;  F.  S. 
Ackerman,  Librarian.  The  teachers  are:  Mrs.  James  B. 
Colgate,  Miss  Florence  Parsons,  Miss  Julia  Sanger,  Miss 
Chrystenah  Ackerman,  Miss  Lizzie  East,  Miss  Alice  Preble, 
Miss  Laura  Youmans,  Messrs.  John  W.  Ackerman,  Thomas 
Holman,  John  A.  Amelung,  John  B.  Trevor,  Cornelius  W. 
Peek,  Thomas  H.  Messer,  Wm.  H.  Holme,  Edward  Mar- 
shall, Harlow  Harris,  E.  L.  Manning,  James  E.  Holme, 
Alonzo  B.  See,  Wm.  N.  Bailey,  Alfred  F.  Decker,  Bailey  J. 
Hathaway,  Jr.,  Wm.  Van  Kirk,  James  B.  Colgate,  and  Joseph 
L.  Colby. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Holme,  on  account  of  ill-health  and  by  the 
advice  of  his  physician,  finally  resigned  the  superintend- 
ency,  which  resignation  was  reluctantly  accepted.  The  beau- 
tiful illuminated  Scripture  mottoes  which  adorn  the  walls  of 
the  present  Sunday-school  room  are  his  gift,  and  the  views 
representing  missionary  life  among  the  Teloogoos — which 
were  purchased  by  the  school — were  put  in  neat  walnut 
frames,  also  his  gift.  These,  with  the  motto  "  Watch  and 
Pray,"  in  the  Karen  language,  over  the  superintendent's 
desk,  add  to  the  attractions  of  this  pleasant  Sunday-school 
room,  giving  quite  an  air  of  a  missionary  school. 

The  first  mission  band  of  this  school  was  organized  by 
Miss  Lena  T.  Leeds  in  1880,  and  was  the  outgrowth  of  her 

Churcb  and  Snnday-Bchool  Work.  I  ■? 


194  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Sunday-school  class  of  girls,  who  began  their  missionary 
work  in  the  home  field  in  Yonkers,  in  purchasing  Bibles 
for  two  little  girls  who  had  never  been  the  possessors  of  one 
of  their  own.  These  girls  subsequently  became  members 
of  the  class. 

This  first  effort  kindled  in  the  minds  of  the  girls  a 
strong  desire  to  extend  their  efforts  in  behalf  of  others 
in  other  directions,  which  purpose  took  definite  shape  in 
the  formation  of  the  band  which  took  the  name  of  the  "  vShu 
Go  Sha,"  or  "  Band  of  Gathering  Doves,"  which  name  was 
given  to  them  by  Miss  Eva  Munson,  a  pupil  of  this  school 
(who  had  recently  taken  her  departure  for  Tokio,  Japan, 
there  to  engage  in  missionary  labors),  and  was  suggested  by 
the  gregarious  habits  of  the  gentle  bird  of  Japan. 

The  band  increased  in  numbers,  and  the  boys  and 
young  men  of  the  church  and  Sunday-school  asked  to  be 
admitted  to  its  membership.  Monthly  meetings  were  reg- 
ularly held  and  the  interest  and  zeal  of  its  members  in 
behalf  of  home  and  foreign  missions  increased,  and  were 
manifested  not  only  in  their  large  gatherings,  but  by  sub- 
stantial contributions  for  various  benevolent  objects.  The 
contributions  of  the  band  during  the  years  of  its  existence 
were  from  $25  to  $50  annually  for  foreign  missions.  It 
made  four  of  its  members — its  President,  Miss  Lena  T. 
Leeds,  Miss  Ella  Andrews  (now  Mrs.  Charles  Austin),  Miss 
Eva  Munson  (now  Mrs.  White),  and  Miss  Lizzie  East — life 
members  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Besides  these  contributions  some  of  its  members 
conducted  a  service  of  song  at  St.  John's  Hospital  weekly, 
and  distributed  flowers  among  the  patients  in  the  wards 
regularly,  for  several  months. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  "Shu  Go  Sha  "  was 
held  on  Friday  evening,  April  i,  1 881,  in  the  parlor  of  the 
church,  when  the  following  programme  was  presented  : 

Piano  Solo Prof.  W.  Carpenter 

March — "  Onward,  Christian  Soldiers  "  -  -  -  -  Shu  Go  Sha 
Reading  the  Scriptures  and  Prayer  -        -        -        Rev.  H.  M.  Sanders 

Chorus — "  We  are  Living,  We  are  Dwelling  "     -        -        -        Shu  Go  Sha 

Annual  Report Jennie  Prote 

Chorus — "  Brightly  Gleams  our  Banner"  -  -  -  -  Shu  Go  Sha 
Address -        -         Prof.  Charles  W.  Sanders 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  I95 

Piano  Duet  -----      Misses  Maggie  and  Florence  East 

Address        ..--.----        Mrs.  J.  B.  Colgate 
Semi-chorus—"  Go  Preach  My  Gospel  "  -        -  Members  of  Band 

Address — Tokio Prof.  A.  Bickmore 

Piano  Duet Misses  Colgate  and  Boll 

Letter  from  Miss  Munson Miss  L.  A.  East 

Song—"  Not  Half  Has  Ever  Been  Told  "        -        -  Miss  A.  L.  Decker 

Tribute  to  Miss  Munson A.  F.  Decker 

Remarks .-        -        -        Rev.  Henry  M.  Sanders 

Chorus — "  Only  an  Armor  Bearer "       -        -        -     '    -        -      Shu  Go  Sha 

REFRESHMENTS. 

The  parlor  was  beautifully  decorated  with  flowers, 
greens,  and  ornaments  of  Japanese  design — such  as  para- 
sols, lanterns,  fans,  an  elegant  quilt,  etc.  The  ornaments 
were  loaned  by  Mrs.  G.  H,  Scribner,  Mrs.  W.  Drummon, 
Miss  Sanger,  and  Fred  Coon,  and  arranged  by  Miss  M.  E. 
Decker.  The  flowers  were  supplied  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  Colgate. 
There  was  also  on  exhibition  an  autograph  quilt  to  be  sent 
to  Miss  Munson,  made  by  members  of  the  church.  The 
ground  was  of  red  material  and  set  in  with  white  patches, 
upon  which  were  written  with  a  pen  the  names  of  friends 
of  Miss  Munson,  to  the  number  of  nearly  four  hundred, 
who  desired  to  take  part  in  the  gift.  The  door  leading  into 
the  pastor's  study  was  thrown  open,  and  over  it,  framed  in 
greens,  was  the  name  of  the  society,  and  in  Japanese  char- 
acters "  Shu  Go  Sha,"  meaning  the  same  thing. 

This  band  at  the  close  of  its  first  year  numbered  sixty 
members,  and  its  officers  were  :  Mrs.  A.  F.  Decker,  Presi- 
dent ;  Miss  L.  A.  East,  Vice-President ;  Miss  Lena  T.  Leeds, 
Corresponding  Secretary  ;  John  Arbuckle,  Recording  Secre- 
tary ;  Miss  Florence  East,  Treasurer. 

The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Shu  Go  Sha,  held  August 
8,  1883,  was  of  special  interest,  nearly  one  hundred  of  its 
members  being  present,  besides  their  friends  from  their 
own  and  other  churches. 

Miss  Lizzie  East,  Vice-President,  presided  and  opened 
the  meeting  with  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  prayer, 
closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer,  in  which  all  united. 

Henry  Keeler,  Secretary,  read  his  report,  also  one  from 
the  committee  in  charge  of  the  distribution  of  flowers  in  St. 
John's  Riverside  Hospital  and  one  from  the  membership 


196  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

committee,  which  showed  gratifying  results  in  that  depart- 
ment of  the  work  of  the  band. 

Papers  prepared  by  several  members  of  the  band,  on 
the  Government  of  China  and  the  various  religious  beliefs 
of  its  people,  were  read,  and  were  exceedingly  interesting 
and  instructive. 

A  gratifying  and  pleasing  feature  of  the  meeting  was 
the  singing  of  the  hymn,  "  Hold  the  Fort,"  by  three  China- 
men in  their  own  language.  Fred  Coon,  a  recent  convert 
to  Christianity,  leading  them,  and  all  present  joined  in  the 
chorus  in  the  English  language. 

The  ready  and  strong  support  which  the  young  men 
gave  to  these  meetings,  the  warm  and  earnest  sympathy 
manifested  by  all  of  the  members,  was  the  means  of 
strengthening  and  increasing  their  interest  in  the  noble 
work  of  foreign  missions. 

The  members  of  the  Shu  Go  Sha  also  accomplished 
much  good  by  sending  papers  and  tracts  to  destitute  Sun- 
day-schools among  the  Indians  on  the  Seneca  reservation 
in  the  western  part  of  New  York,  near  Buffalo. 

The  following  message  in  reference  to  their  gift  was 
received  by  a  lady  not  connected  with  the  band  : 

"  The  box  sent  by  the  '  Shu  Go  Sha  '  arrived  in  due 
time  and  touched  us  deeply  by  the  manifested  Christian 
love  of  the  givers.  Side  by  side,  in  this  box  from  Baptist 
friends,  were  papers  of  almost  every  denomination,  speak- 
ing with  their  utmost  power  of  the  love  of  Christ.  I  feel 
more  and  more  how  really  we  are  all  one  in  Christ.  The 
box  was  a  very  valuable  one,  and  we  thank  the  donors 
most  heartily." 

Some  of  the  members  of  the  Shu  Go  Sha  removed 
from  the  city  and  others  entered  upon  business  which  re- 
quired their  time  evenings.  This,  with  their  social  and 
religious  engagements  in  connection  with  their  church  and 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  prevented  their  attend- 
ance at  the  meetings  of  the  band  and  they  withdrew  from 
its  membership.  As  the  attendance  at  the  meetings  and  its 
membership  decreased,  it  was  thought  advisable  by  some  of 
the  members  to  disband.  Others  of  the  young  ladies  were 
unwilling  to  do  this,  and  brought  the  subject  before  the 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  197 

Women's  Mission  Circle  of  the  church  with  the  proposition 
*'  that  if  they  would  assist  in  organizing  a  new  band  they 
would  give  them  the  books  and  their  missionary  banner, 
also  a  valuable  missionary  map,  if  the  new  band  would 
take  their  name."  The  proposition  was  accepted  and  a  few 
of  the  younger  members  of  the  Sunday-school  were  gath- 
ered and  enlisted  in  the  enterprise.  Monthly  meetings 
were  held  in  the  church  parlor.  Miss  Olivia  Burns  took 
the  entire  charge  of  them  for  several  months,  attending 
regularly  the  meetings  and  instructing  them  in  missionary 
work. 

By  request  of  the  ladies  of  the  church  mission  circle, 
the  new  band  was  organized  October  2,  1886,  taking  the 
name  of  the  "Gathering  Doves,"  and  is  now  under  the 
direction  of  Miss  Mary  Colgate  and  Miss  Hattie  Middle- 
brook.  All  its  offices  are  filled  from  the  members  of  the 
band,  and  much  of  the  executive  work  of  the  band  is  done 
by  the  little  girls — from  ten  to  twelve  years  old — who  com- 
pose it.  They  preside  at  their  meetings,  read  the  Bible, 
and  lead  in  prayer.  They  have  their  nominating  commit- 
tee, their  officers  are  elected  annually,  and  all  stand  a 
chance  of  having  active  service. 

The  "  Mission  Band  Scrap  Book,"  the  device  of  its 
directors,  is  an  instructive  and  valuable  feature  of  their 
work.  It  contains  interesting  descriptive  and  illustrative 
articles  on  the  manners  and  customs  of  heathen  lands 
alphabetically  arranged.  It  is  a  reference  book  of  incalcu- 
lable benefit.  By  this  means  the  whole  world  is  touched 
by  them.  The  care  of  this  is  entrusted  to  the  little  girls, 
who  receive  contributions  from  the  members  of  the  band. 
Thus  by  all  these  methods  they  are  being  trained  to  be 
useful  church  workers. 

During  the  past  year  they  sent  a  package  of  books  and 
Scripture  cards  to  the  Teloogoo  ]\Iission  in  India,  made  fif- 
teen scrap  books,  which  were  sent  to  Madras,  and  also  a 
number  of  garments  for  the  Congo  children  in  Africa.  Be- 
sides this  they  contributed  articles  towards  a  missionary 
box  sent  by  the  Women's  Mission  Circle  to  India. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  2,  1887,  they  held  their 
first  anniversary  in  the  Nepperhan  Mission  Chapel  and  had 


198  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

a  very  delightful  time.  The  girls  took  part  in  recitations 
and  singing,  and  one  of  the  State  Secretaries  of  the  Wo- 
men's Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society  addressed  them. 

The  band  raised,  by  a  sale  of  fancy  articles  made  by 
its  members,  $100,  in  1889. 

The  following  is  a  brief  account  of  other  work  accom- 
plished :  "  During  the  year  we  have  studied  about  Judson, 
Boardman  and  his  work  among  the  Karens,  and  have  had 
a  few  lessons  about  Carey  and  the  Hindoo  people.  In  Octo- 
ber a  sale  was  held  which  was  very  successful.  We  have 
agreed  to  send  $50  of  our  money  to  Tokio,  Japan,  for  the 
education  of  a  child  in  one  of  the  schools." 

There  are  twenty-five  members.  Since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Band  it  has  raised  $255,  of  which  ^32  25  have 
come  from  dues  of  five  cents  a  month  from  its  members. 
The  Band  continues  under  the  efficient  management  of 
Miss  Mary  Colgate  and  Miss  Hattie  Middlebrook.  Its 
present  officers — April,  1891 — are  Miss  Edna  Randall,  Presi- 
dent ;  Miss  May  Tarbell,  Secretary ;  Miss  Miriam  Sher- 
wood, Treasurer. 

The  branch  of  the  "  King's  Daughters  "  belonging  to 
this  Sunday-school  was  organized  by  Miss  Lena  T.  Leeds, 
who  was  its  President,  July  13,  1887.  Its  members  are  ac- 
tively engaged  in  good  work.  A  song  service  at  St.  John's 
Riverside  Hospital,  conducted  by  some  of  its  members,  is 
appreciated  by  the  patients  of  that  institution.  A  note 
from  the  matron,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Rickey,  dated  August  29, 
1887,  says: 

"  King's  Daughters— Dear  Friends  :  Your  donation 
of  fruits,  flowers,  and  clothing  for  little  Alice  has  been 
received  at  the  hospital.  On  behalf  of  the  Ladies'  Commit- 
tee and  the  Board  of  Managers  I  desire  to  thank  you  for 
the  kindly  interest  manifested  as  well  as  for  the  substantial 
aid  given  to  this  charitable  work.  I  also  desire  to  thank 
you  for  your  service  of  song." 

The  young  people's  weekly  prayer-meeting  which  is 
connected  with  this  church  and  Sunday-school  was  organ- 
ized in  October,  1881,  and  is  a  means  of  great  usefulness, 
not  only  to  the  Sunday-school,  but  to  the  church  as  well. 

The    sixth    anniversary   of    the   organization    of   this 


WARBURTON   AVENUE    BAPTIST    CHURCH.  I99 

young  people's  meeting  was  held  in  the  chapel  of  the  Nep- 
perhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  in  October,  1887.  There 
were  about  325  persons  present.  James  G.  Affleck  presi- 
ded. The  exercises  were  opened  by  singing  the  hymns 
"Tell  it  Out"  and  "Redeemed."  Prayer  was  offered  by 
William  Smith,  President  of  the  Dayspring  Young  People's 
Association,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  Charles  J.  Wallis, 
of  the  Westminster  Young  People's  Association,  read  from 
the  Scriptures  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  John. 

After  singing  "  Blest  be  the  Tie  that  Binds,"  the 
report  for  the  past  year,  a  most  interesting  one,  was  read 
by  James  G.  Affleck,  chairman  of  the  Young  People's  Meet- 
ing, who  said  in  substance :  The  past  year's  work  has  been 
most  encouraging,  being  marked  by  a  large  attendance  and 
a  lively  general  interest.  Total  attendance  for  the  year 
5,450 ;  average  attendance  at  each  meeting  being  a  marked 
increase  over  that  of  former  years.  January  24,  1 887,  there 
was  started,  as  an  outcome  of  our  meetings,  a  Bible  Read- 
ing Union,  in  which  there  are  148  members,  and  the  way 
the  work  has  been  followed  up  and  the  benefit  resulting 
therefrom  has  been  a  source  of  much  gratification.  We 
have  good  reason  to  believe  that  since  November  i,  1886, 
nearly  fifty  young  men  and  women  have  been  led  to  their 
Saviour  through  the  efforts  put  forth  in  these  meetings, 
and  of  the  forty-seven  young  people  who  have  united  with 
our  church  during  the  year  fully  thirty,  by  their  own  testi- 
mony, have  shown  of  what  value  these  meetings  have  been 
to  them.  We  cannot  ever  find  out  to  how  many  these 
meetings  have  been  stepping-stones  leading  them  to  a 
higher  and  nobler  life.  God  has  truly  blessed  us,  and  he 
will,  we  believe,  bless  us  again. 

"  Take  Me  as  I  Am  "  was  sung. 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  H.  B.  Grose  and 
Rev.  H.  M.  vSanders. 

After  singing  "  He  that  Believeth,"  Charles  E.  See. 
President  of  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor of  the  Reformed  Church,  led  in  prayer.  The  sing- 
ing of  the  doxology,  and  the  benediction  pronounced  by 
Mr.  Sanders,  ended  the  interesting  exercises. 

The  quarterly  review  days  in  this  school  are  observed 


200  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

by  special  exercises,  and  careful  preparation  by  the  Super- 
intendent and  teachers  is  made,  so  as  to  have  the  exercises 
different  in  character  each  review  day. 

The  Ch^stmas  festival  of  the  school  for  1887  was  an 
unusually  interesting  occasion.  The  chapel  of  the  church 
was  tastefully  trimmed  with  greens  and  Christmas  greet- 
ings. Much  time,  patience,  and  work  were  expended  by 
the  officers,  teachers,  and  pupils  in  preparing  for  the  ren- 
dering of  the  Christmas  cantata,  "  Santa  Claus'  Mistake,  or, 
a  Bundle  of  Sticks,"  which  was  the  special  feature  of  the 
evening's  entertainment,  and  which  took  forty  minutes  in 
rendering.  The  words  were  by  Clara  Louise  Burnham 
and  music  by  George  F.  Root.  Some  thirty  persons  par- 
ticipated in  it.  This  work  was  localized,  and  was  under 
preparation  for  several  months.  The  east  end  of  the 
chapel  was  artistically  arranged  to  permit  a  full  view  of 
the  entire  performance  by  all  the  audience,  which  not 
only  filled  every  seat,  but  occupied  all  the  available  stand- 
ing-room as  well.  The  singing  and  acting  of  those  who 
took  part  was  so  natural  and  graceful  that  frequent  and 
hearty  applause  was  expressed  by  the  audience.  There 
were  recitations  by  Ada  Cox,  Hattie  Fisher,  Edna  Trom- 
ley.  Belle  Ferguson,  Thomas  Pullen,  and  Charles  Fisher. 
The  infant  class  sang  a  carol  sweetly.  After  these  exer- 
cises the  disrobing  of  the  Christmas-tree  took  place,  and 
each  schoolar  was  remembered  with  an  appropriate  gift. 

The  religious  services  of  this  festival  were  observed  in 
the  church  on  Sunday  morning  with  the  following  exer- 
cises :  Organ  Voluntary.  Processional,  "  Onward,  Chris- 
tian Soldiers."  Prayer  by  the  pastor,  closing  with  the 
Lord's  Prayer  by  the  school.  Responsive  Scripture  read- 
ing. Carol.  Sermon.  Hymn  by  congregation  and  school. 
Christmas  offering.     Carol.     Baptism.     Recessional. 

Rev.  H.  B.  Grose  preached  on  the  meaning  of  Christ- 
mas and  the  giving  of  Christmas  offerings  by  representa- 
tives of  various  classes.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  the 
impressive  ordinance  of  baptism  was  administered  to  the 
following  persons :  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Wilcox,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Craft,  William  Graham,  William  B.  Feakins,  Frank  O. 
Freethy,  and  William  H.  Ball,  Jr. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  20I 

The  Christmas  offering  of  the  school  was  $30  60  for 
the  Baptist  Ministers'  Home,  which  is  located  at  West 
Farms  in  this  county. 

The  following  report  of  this  Sunday-school  for  the  year 
ending  December  31,  1887,  was  presented  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  church  by  the  Superintendent : 

"  Enrolment — Officers,  5  ;  teachers,  32 ;  scholars — adult 
and  intermediate,  269;  primary,  89  ;  total,  395,  an  increase 
of  43  over  1886.  Total  number  of  classes,  including  pri- 
mary class,  29;  total  attendance  for  the  year,  13,287,  in- 
crease of  1,735  over  1886;  average  Sunday  attendance  for 
the  year,  255,  increase  of  33  over  1886;  largest  Sunday 
attendance  for  the  year,  310,  increase  of  30  over  1886; 
number  of  deaths  during  the  year,  2  ;  members  of  school 
who  are  members  of  church,  116;  volumes  in  library, 
1,000. 

"  Our  finances  show  a  balance  on  the  credit  side,  as 
appears  by  the  report  of  the  treasurer.  The  annual  sum- 
mer excursion  in  connection  with  the  Nepperhan  Avenue 
Baptist  Mission  School  was  given  in  July  last,  also  the 
Christmas  services  and  festival  were  held  at  the  usual  sea- 
son. A  very  gratifying  interest  in  the  work  of  the  school 
has  been  apparent  during  the  year,  as  evidenced  by  the 
regular  attendance  of  the  scholars,  the  fidelity  of  the  teach- 
ers, and  the  increased  membership,  as  shown  by  the  enrol- 
ment. 

"  Our  greatest  cause  for  rejoicing  has  been  that  twenty- 
three  members  of  the  school  have  given  their  hearts  to  the 
Saviour  during  the  year.  Herein  lies  our  greatest  encour- 
agement and  incentive  to  more  faithful  service,  for  it  may 
truly  be  regarded  as  a  mark  of  the  approval  of  our  Lord 
upon  the  labors  of  his  disciples  as  well  as  the  fulfilling  of 
his  own  promise.  In  reviewing  the  record  of  the  year  we 
cannot  but  feel  that  the  blessing  of  God  has  been  upon  us, 
and  with  hearts  full  of  gratitude  for  past  mercies  we  look 
forward  with  faith  and  hope  that  the  year  to  come  may  be 
one  of  blessing  to  all  who  may  come  within  the  influence 
of  the  school. 

"  Respectfully  submitted, 

"GEORGE  M.  BAILEY,  Superintendent." 


202  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

The  room  in  which  the  Primary  Department  of  the 
Sunday-school  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church 
meets  is  on  the  west  end  of  the  Sunday-school  room,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  a  sash  partition.  It  is  conveni- 
ently and  attractively  furnished  with  black  walnut  seats, 
superintendent's  desk  and  table,  and  the  floor  is  covered 
with  ingrain  carpet  of  shaded  crimson,  the  same  as  the 
Sunday-school  room.  Charts  with  the  ten  commandments, 
the  beatitudes,  a  map  and  blackboard  and  pictures  com- 
plete the  adornments  of  the  room.  This  department  is 
superintended  by  Thomas  H.  Messer,  who  has  had  it  in 
charge  for  twelve  years.  He  is  assisted  by  his  daughter, 
Miss  Beulah  Messer,  formerly  a  pupil  of  the  Primary  De- 
partment of  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  Sun- 
day-school. She  entered  that  school  when  but  three  years 
old,  and  has  ever  since,  either  as  a  scholar  or  a  teacher  in 
the  Sunday-school,  been  connected  therewith. 

Promotions  from  this  department  into  the  main  room 
are  made  usually  in  classes  of  five  or  six,  and  the  qualifica- 
tions of  the  children  are  that  they  shall  read  fairly  well 
and  know  the  ten  commandments,  the  beatitudes,  the 
twenty-third  Psalm,  and  other  portions  of  Scripture  in 
which  instructions  are  given,  together  with  the  regular 
lessons  of  the  International  Series  taught  in  the  Sunday- 
school. 

The  teachers  in  this  department  give  much  attention 
to  singing.  Besides  the  hymns  in  the  Sunday-school  books, 
others  are  selected  which  are  appropriate  and  popular  with 
the  children.  The  children's  paper,  entitled  "  Our  Little 
Ones,"  is  distributed  every  Sunday.  The  "  Berean  Leaf 
Cluster,"  consisting  of  large  colored  pictures  illustrative  of 
the  lessons,  is  also  used.  After  they  have  been  used  they 
are  sent  with  papers  contributed  by  the  children  to  desti- 
tute Sunday-schools  in  the  South. 

The  pleasure  afforded  to  their  recipients  and  their  use- 
fulness is  indicated  in  the  following  extracts  taken  from 
some  of  the  letters  received  by  the  Superintendent. 

Rev.  E.  A.  Carter,  a  colored  Baptist  preacher,  writes 
from  Atlanta,  Ga.,  November  9,  1883:  "On  my  arrival 
home  from  the  Preachers'    Association    I   found   a  letter 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  203 

from  you  which  made  me  say,  '  Bless  the  Lord,  and  you 
too !'  I  have  a  distinct  work  assigned  me  at  the  Associa- 
tion to  go  around  and  visit  the  poor  Sunday-schools." 

At  a  still  later  date  Mr.  Carter  writes  :  "  Yours  came 
to  hand  some  days  ago.  The  papers  and  books  were  the 
right  kind  sent  to  the  right  man.  I  am  sorry  though  that 
I  delayed  the  answer.  The  reason  is  I  have  been  called  off 
to  make  temperance  speeches  for  a  week,  and  I  thank  the 
Lord  that  my  word  accomplished  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  sent  and  that  prohibition  we  have  got  in  ninety-eight 
counties.  You  asked  me  if  I  am  a  Baptist.  I  am  the  pas- 
tor of  the  Friendship  Baptist  Church,  and  I  hope  you  are  a 
good  Baptist.  I  hope  I  am  a  true  Baptist.  You  need  not 
fear.  All  is  well  and  the  Lord  is  blessing  my  work.  I  am 
under  many  obligations  to  you  for  all  the  books." 

Mr.  Messer  has  also  received  interesting  and  grateful 
letters  from  Rev.  A.  H.  Conway,  of  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
and  from  Rev.  John  H.  Quiatt,  of  Virginia. 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Quiatt  tells  about  Christmas  in  his 
school :  "  I  think  you  would  be  interested  to  know  what  I 
did  with  the  pictures  you  sent  me.  After  I  had  talked 
from  them  the  sisters  of  the  church  took  them,  framed 
them  with  ivy  leaves,  and  put  two  by  the  pulpit,  two  on 
each  side,  and  one  over  the  door.  That  is  the  way  we 
trimmed  the  church  for  Christmas.  We  had  a  revival  this 
winter,  and  there  were  added  to  the  church  seventeen 
souls.     Five  of  them  were  Sunday-school  scholars." 

The  above  are  specimens  of  many  letters  which  Mr. 
j\Iesser  has  received  from  those  who  are  either  teaching  or 
preaching  in  the  places  from  whence  they  came.  Nor  are 
these  all  the  letters  which  are  received.  That  there  is 
great  affection  between  the  teachers  and  pupils  of  the  Pri- 
mary Department  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Sun- 
day-school is  evident  from  the  childish  epistles  which  come 
to  the  teachers  now  and  then.  One  little  girl  of  five  years 
writes  in  big  letters  : 

' '  OvvEGo,  August  30. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Messer  :  the  last  time  i  was  at  Sunday 
school  you  was  not  there  so  i  could  not  say  good  bye.  i 
am  in  Owego  on  a  farm,     i  fed  the  sheap  salt  last  night,     i 


204  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

went  to  Sunday  school  yesterday  and  learnt  the  text  let  not 
your  heart  be  trembled,  if  you  cant  read  this  my  papa  will 
for  you,  cause  i  write  to  him  often,  there  is  a  river  here  it 
is  the  susqannah  but  it  is  not  as  nice  as  the  Hudson.  '-^  *  '•'■ 
Papa  said  I  could  give  my  love  to  Beulah.  i  did  this  all 
alone.  Mamma  told  ine  how  to  spell  the  words.  I  had 
some  nice  drives  since  i  been  here,  i  will  be  back  before 
Christmas  to  Sunday  school,     this  is  from 

"  P.  S. — good  bye.  *^*^-/' 

The  school,  in  company  with  the  teachers  and  pupils 
with  their  friends,  numbering  some  1,500,  went  on  their 
annual  excursion  in  July,  1887.  The  steamboat  "Sirius" 
took  them  to  Oscawana  Island  up  the  Hudson.  The  excur- 
sion was  a  great  success  every  way,  and  to  the  indefatiga- 
ble efforts  of  Chairman  Airey,  of  the  committee  in  charge, 
must  the  credit  in  a  large  measure  be  awarded. 
The  secretary's  report  for  1888  is  as  follows: 

Enrolment      -        -        -        - 413 

Total  attendance        -        - 12,286 

Average      "  ..-.-----        236 

Largest       " 313 

Deaths  during  the  year  -..-----  i 

Members  uniting  with  the  church 12 

Officers,  teachers,  and  scholars  who  are  members  of  the 

church  - 126 

The  school  has  a  class-attendance  banner,  which  is 
given  to  and  held  by  the  class  for  three  months  which  has 
had  the  highest  average  attendance  for  that  length  of  time. 

Banner  awarded  for  largest  percentage  of  attendance 
during  first  quarter,  1889,  to  Class  No.  2,  taught  by  J.  W. 
Ackerm'an.  Second  quarter,  1889,  to  Class  No.  28,  taught 
by  Miss  M.  Yerks. 

The  Adults'  Bible-class,  taught  by  Mr.  C.  D.  Wyman, 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the  school. 
Upwards  of  fifty  names  are  enrolled,  and  a  goodly  propor- 
tion are  in  attendance  each  Sabbath. 

The  treasurer's  report  for  the  year  ending.  December, 

1888: 

Total  receipts I409  85 

Disbursements 342  28 

Balance  in  the  treasury  January  i,  1889    -        -        -        -        67  57 


WARBURTON   AVENUE    BAPTIST    CHURCH.  20? 

Missionary  Fund — total  receipts $306  39 

Paid  for  benevolent  purposes 180  64 

Balance   ----- 125  75 

J.  VV.  ACKERMAN,  Treasurer. 

From  January  to  September,  1889,  sixteen  scholars 
united  with  the  church  from  the  Sunday-school. 

The  officers  of  the  school  in  1887  to  September,  1889, 
were :  George  M.  Bailey,  Superintendent ;  Stanley  H.  Ray, 
Assistant  Superintendent;  George  Ackerman,  Secretary; 
John  W.  Ackerman,  Treasurer;  Orville  B.  Ackerly,  Libra- 
rian ;  Henry  Middlebrook,  Assistant  Librarian ;  George 
Weller,  Collector. 

In  September,  1889,  Superintendent  George  M.  Bailey, 
"  under  whose  wise  and  genial  direction  the  Sunday-school 
has  been  for  several  years  prospering,"  was  obliged  to  re- 
sign on  account  of  failing  health.  "  It  was  the  wish  of  the 
teachers  to  reelect  him  and  wait  for  him  to  recover,  but  he 
declined  to  have  it  so.  But  he  was  elected  for  life  to  fill  a 
great  place  in  our  esteem  and  affection." 

The  spacious  Sunday-school  room  of  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church  presented  a  scene  of  animation  at 
the  annual  Christmas  celebration  of  1888,  and  the  cheerful 
countenances  of  nearly  400  happy  children  lent  enchant 
ment  to  the  scene.  On  the  platform  could  be  seen  the  res- 
idence of  Santa  Claus,  the  roof  covered  with  snow  and  the 
chimney  painted  a  bright  red.  Superintendent  George  M. 
Bailey  presided,  and  Assistant  Superintendent  Stanley  H. 
Ray  assisted.  The  attendance  of  friends  was  very  large. 
Some  could  not  get  seats  and  some  could  not  get  within 
the  hall  door  at  all. 

The  exercises  began  by  the  singing  of  the  carol  "  Jubi- 
lant Bells."  This  was  followed  by  opening  remarks  by  the 
Superintendent,  and  Scripture  reading  and  prayer  by  the 
pastor.  "  Once  in  Royal  David's  City  "  was  then  sung,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Hobart  made  a  brief  address.  The  programme 
was  then  continued  as  follows : 

Carol — Oh  Sing  of  His  Praise. 

Recitation — Floe's  Letter Clara  Carpenter. 

Recitation— Emily  Jane Geraldine  Helmsley. 

Performance  by  the  Kazoo  Quartette. 
Dialogue — Colloquy  in  Church      -      Maggie  Monroe  and  Mary  Anderson. 


206  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

Recitation — Fate  of  Mary's  Two  Canaries        .        -        -        -  Arthur  Ray. 
Recitation — Japanese  Girl  in  Costume        .  -  -     Lizzie  Ramage. 

Carol — Room  for  the  New-Born  King. 
Recitation— The  Granted  Wish  -  -  -  Nettie  Ewald. 

Recitation — Whistling  in  Heaven      -  -  -  -      Myra  Corwin. 

Kinder  Symphony. 
Recitation — Christmas  Dolly      -  -  -  -  Sadie  Monroe. 

Dialogue — Practical  Lesson  in  the  Beginning  of  Bad  Citizens — 

Jessie  Corwin,  Master  Simpson,  Hattie  Fisher,  and  Davy  Fisher. 
Recitation — The  Old  Woman  in  the  Shoe        -  -        Fanny  S.  Bailey. 

Recitation — Our  Christmas  -  -  -  -  Maggie  Monroe. 

The  several  pieces  were  well  spoken,  and  the  recitation 
"  Whistling  in  Heaven,"  by  Miss  Myra  Corwin,  deserves 
special  commendation. 

At  this  point  smoke  was  seen  to  issue  from  the  chim- 
ney of  the  cottage  of  Santa  Clans  on  the  stage,  and  soon 
his  head  was  seen  peering  out  of  the  chimney.  He  then 
came  out  by  the  door  and  made  a  speech.  The  children 
were  then  supplied  each  with  a  ticket,  and  this  procured 
for  each  a  box  of  candy  at  the  door  at  the  going  out. 

The  Christmas  services  of  the  Sunday-school  on  De- 
cember 28,  1890,  were  held  on  Sunday  afternoon  in  the 
church.  The  Mission  School  had  been  invited  and  occu- 
pied the  rear  pews,  while  the  galleries  were  filled  with 
spectators.  Upon  the  platform  were  James  G.  Affleck,  the 
Superintendent,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Alvah  S.  Hobart,  the  pastor. 

The  scholars  and  teachers  marched  into  the  church 
singing  "Jerusalem  the  Golden."  After  prayer  by  the 
pastor,  opening  exercises  were  conducted  by  the  Primary 
Department.  The  programme  that  followed  was  in  four 
divisions,  the  scholars  reciting  or  singing  their  various  parts. 

The  First  Division  consisted  as  follows : 
Joy  Over  the  Child  Jesus — 

Ferdie  Hughes,  Rose  Ewald,  John  Monroe,  Larissa  and  Ray 

Carpenter. 
Childhood  of  Jesus — 

Maud  Cox,   Ida  Wallin,   Willie  Wallin,   Ida   Maltby,  Jennie 

Campbell,  Lottie  Vought,  Susie  Weir,  Willie  Watts,  Freddie 

Mueller,  George  Beckwith. 

Second  Division : 
The  Works  of  Jesus — 

Nellie  Bartlett,  Stella  Bailey,  Ada  Newman,  Eva  Storms,  Ber- 
tie Bell,  Myra  Corwin. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  20/ 

Jesus'  Power  Over  Sin — 

Review  by  pastor  and  school. 

Third  Division  : 

The  Words  of  Jesus — 

Sarah  Beckwith,  Edna  Randall,  May  Tarbell,  Emily  Kipp, 
Nellie  Drummon,  Naomi  Rigby,  Lillian  Howes,  Alice  Wy- 
man,  Henry  Myers. 

Fourth  Division — Passion  Week  : 

The  Death  of  Jesus- 
Miss  L.  Graham  ;  solo  "  He  was  Despised,"  Miss  Beree. 

The  Resurrection  of  Jesus — 

Miss  Roach;  quartette,  "Magdalene,"  Miss  Haring,  Miss 
Beree,  Mr.  Gardinier,  Mr.  Cole. 

Appropriate  songs  were  given  by  the  school. 

After  the  exercises  five  young  men  were  united  with 
the  church  by  baptism. 

Mrs.  James  B.  Colgate  has  been  connected  with  this 
school  since  1861,  and  is  among  the  honorary  list  of  Sun- 
day-school teachers  in  Yonkers.  She  has  charge  of  a 
bright  and  intelligent  class  of  young  ladies  which  meets  in 
the  church  parlor.  Some  of  the  teachers  in  the  home  and 
mission  Sunday-schools  have  received  their  training  under 
her  instruction,  and  a  number  of  the  members  of  this  class 
at  the  present  time  are  teachers  in  the  afternoon  mission 
school. 

This  class  and  its  beloved  teacher  are  especially  hon- 
ored in  that  one  of  their  number,  Miss  Lena  T.  Leeds,  was 
under  appointment  as  missionary  by  the  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  1887.  Miss 
Leeds,  with  this  end  in  view,  took  a  preparatory  course  of 
study  in  Colby  Academy,  at  New  London,  N.  H.  At  the 
end  of  her  course,  finding  that  her  health  would  not  permit 
her  to  labor  in  a  foreign  field,  she  accepted  a  position  as 
missionary  under  the  Woman's  Branch  of  City  Missions  in 
New  York.  Miss  Leeds  has  abilities  which  peculiarly  fit 
her  for  her  noble  work  and  is  very  successful  in  it. 

The  scholars  of  the  home  and  mission  schools  cele- 
brated Children's  Day  in  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist 
Church  on  Sunday  afternoon  June  8,  1890.  There  were 
about  1,000  scholars  seated  in   the  body  of  the  church, 


208  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

while  the  galleries  were  filled  with  parents  and  friends. 
The  platform  was  richly  decorated  with  palms  and  bunches 
of  cut  flowers. 

James  M.  Hunt,  Superintendent  of  the  home  school, 
presided,  and  Prof.  Edwin  Moore  led  the  singing.  The 
order  of  exercises  consisted  of  singing,  "  Holy,  Holy, 
Holy;"  prayer  by  Mr.  Hunt;  hymn,  "Grander  than  Ocean's 
Story;"  responsive  reading  from  Luke  11:1-13,  led.  by 
Superintendent  William  H.  Baldwin,  of  the  mission  school ; 
prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hobart,  and  chanting  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer  by  the  children;  semi -chorus,  "Great  King  of 
Glory,  Come !"  "  Little  Children,  Jesus  Calls  You,"  by 
infant  department  of  the  mission  school.  Recitations  were 
given  as  follows :  "  Springtime,"  by  Grace  Narr  and  Har- 
old Searles ;  "  Jesus'  Little  Blossoms,"  by  Fernando  and 
Edwin  Hughes ;  "  Speaking  for  Jesus,"  by  Ethel  Phillips. 
"  Forward  Be  Our  Watchword,"  was  sung  by  the  scholars ; 
"  Sunbeams "  was  recited  by  Gertie  Church,  and  "  Kind 
Words,"  by  Willie  Hopperton. 

Rev.  Dr.  Alvah  S.  Hobart,  the  pastor  of  the  church, 
made  a  short  address  of  welcome  to  the  scholars  and 
friends,  and  said  he  was  glad  to  see  so  many  of  the  chil- 
dren in  the  house  of  God.  He  asked  some  review  ques- 
tions on  the  Sunday-school  lessons  of  the  last  quarter 
which  were  promptly  answered  by  the  scholars.  He  then 
requested  all  the  scholars  present  who  had  come  into  the 
membership  of  the  church  from  the  Sunday-schools,  and 
whom  he  had  baptized,  to  come  forward.  About  fifty  re- 
sponded, and  the  pastor  gave  each  a  small  book  containing 
helpful  Christian  reading. 

Myra  Corwin  followed  with  a  recitation  ;  and  "  Wel- 
come, Happy  Summer,"  was  sung  by  the  semi-chorus.  A 
collection  was  taken  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  fund  of  the 
Mission  School,  and  the  exercises  closed  with  the  singing 
of  "  Coronation." 

The  Young  People's  Association  of  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church  and  Mission  Chapel  was  organized 
October  20,  1889.  The  work  of  the  Association  is  divided 
into  four  departments:  i.  Social  and  Membership.  2. 
Prayer-meeting.     3.  Missionary.     4.  Evangelistic. 


WARBURTON   AVENUE   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  209 

There  are  seventy-seven  names  enrolled  as  charter 
members.  There  is  a  recruiting  work  going  on  now  in 
the  missionary  department  of  the  Young  People's  Associa- 
tion. They  hold  monthly  meetings  for  the  study  of  mis- 
sions and  are  doing  a  very  excellent  work.  Its  present 
officers  are  the  following :  J.  M.  Hunt,  President ;  James 
Howes  and  Miss  F.  J.  Parsons,  Vice-Presidents;  F.  O. 
Freethy,  Secretary  ;  Miss  J.  Prote,  Treasurer. 

The  Treasurer's  report  of  the  school  for  the  year  end- 
ing December  1889,  is  as  follows:  Receipts  $412  31  ;  dis- 
bursements, $288  95;  balance,  $123  36.  Mission  Fund: 
Receipts,  $306  87  ;  disbursements,  $265  ;  balance,  $41  87. 

The  correctness  and  completeness  which  mark  the 
record  books  of  this  school  are  worth}'  of  mention.  John 
W,  Ackerman  has  been  Treasurer  of  this  school  for  twenty 
years,  and  has  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  with  ac- 
ceptability and  fidelity. 

The  teachers  of  this  school  meet  every  Friday  evening 
with  the  teachers  of  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mis- 
sion School  for  the  study  of  the  lesson.  These  meetings 
are  conducted  by  Elmer  L.  Manning  and  Franklin  Airey, 
the  latter  of  whom  illustrates  the  lesson  by  blackboard  ex- 
ercises. At  the  close  of  the  meeting  hektograph  copies  of 
the  illustrations  are  distributed  which  are  helpful  for  the 
preparation  of  the  lesson. 

This  school  has  not  only  the  privilege  of  preparing 
two  of  its  pupils  for  missionary  work  in  the  foreign  field, 
but  also  the  training  of  a  loved  and  honored  superin- 
tendent, George  M.  Bailey,"  who  from  childhood  had  been 

*  On  Monday  afternoon,  October  13,  1890,  George  M.  Bailey  entered 
into  life  eternal.  Funeral  sei-vices  were  held  in  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church  at  three  o'clock  on  Thursday  afternoon,  October  16.  Rev. 
Dr.  Alvah  S.  Hobart  officiated,  and  with  Rev.  Henry  M.  Sanders  and 
George  D.  Mackay  spoke  fittingly  and  eloquently  of  his  sweet,  manly 
life.  The  church  was  clad  in  an  attire  of  blossoms  white  as  angels  are. 
Palms,  the  symbol  of  our  Lord's  triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem,  overhung 
the  face  of  the  departed.  Songs  by  loving  voices  long  time  ago  tuned  to 
his  not  only  in  earthly  songs,  but  in  the  higher,  holier  melodies  of  Chris- 
tian faith,  a  circle  of  near  relatives  who  in  their  sorrow  lifted  up  their 
hearts  to  Jesus  with  mingled  prayers  and  thanksgivings— all  these  made 
the  day  a  day  to  be  remembered  as  one  of  those  of  which  it  is  said,  "  It  is 
better  to  go  to  the  house  of  mourning  than  to  the  house  of  feasting."     "O 

Sunday-Bchool  Wort.  Id. 


2IO  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

connected  with  the  school,  till  his  resignation  in  Septem- 
ber, 1889.  His  deep  interest  in  the  work  and  workers  was 
abundantly  testified  by  the  fervent  prayers  and  earnest  ex- 
hortations from  the  superintendent's  desk. 

The  Superintendent,  James  G.  Affleck  organized  the 
Boys'  Brigade  January,  1891.  They  have  a  weekly  exer- 
cise (Monday  evenings)  in  military  drill  and  study  of  those 
Scriptures  which  have  to  do  with  the  soldierly  qualities  of 
Christian  life.  They  drill  half  an  hour  and  then  study 
half  an  hour. 

The  terms  of  membership  are  attendance  at  the  school 
and  abstinence  from  tobacco  and  alcoholic  stimulants. 
Mr.  Arbuckle,  who  is  sergeant  of  the  Fourth  Separate 
Company,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  is  the  drill-master  of  the  brigade. 
There  are  about  forty  members  of  the  brigade. 

The  number  of  scholars  April,  1 891,  is  400. 

The  lesson  helps  used  by  this  school  are  from  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society  and  are  "  The  Bap- 
tist Teacher,"  which  is  used  by  the  teachers,  "  The  Semi- 
Quarterly,"  "  The  Advanced  Quarterly "  for  the  Bible 
classes,  and  the  "  Intermediate  Quarterly  "  and  ''  Primary 
Quarterly  "  for  the  younger  members  and  children  of  the 
Primary  department.  The  Sunday  -  school  papers  circu- 
lated in  the  school  are  "  The  Young  Reaper "  and  "  Our 
Little  Ones."  The  singing  books  used  are  •'  The  Gospel 
Praise  Book,"  "The  New  Alleluia,"  and  "Select  Gems." 

The  names  of  the  superintendents  in  the  order  of  their 
service  are  as  follows :  Benjamin  Franklin  Crane,  Deacon 
Benjamin  Longstreet,  Peter  F.  Peek,  who  served  for 
nearly  eight  years,  his  term  of  service  ending  December 
1862;  from  1862  until  1866  James  Youmans  and  Robert 
Rich  were  the  superintendents,  the  latter  serving  a  little 
over  two  years ;  William  Gray  was  elected  February  7, 
1866;  Heman  L.  White,  who  was  the  superintendent  when 
the  Sunday-school  entered  the  new  chapel,  June  20,  1869; 
Deacon  William  Holme,  who  held  the  office  for  thirteen 
years  until  1882  ;  Julius  B.  Briggs,  1883  ;  Reuben  T.  Pettin- 
gil,  1884-5  ;  George  M.  Bailey,  who  was  elected  January, 

grave,  where  is  thy  victory?  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting?"  "Thanks  be 
to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ." 


WARBURTON    AVENUE    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  211 

1886,  resigned  September,  1889;  James  M.  Hunt,  elected 
January,  1890,  resigned  November,  1890;  the  present  su- 
perintendent, James  G.  Affleck  was  elected  December, 
1890. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are :  James  G.  Affleck, 
Superintendent ;  John  W.  Arbuckle  Assistant-Superintend- 
ent ;  Coleman  Carpenter,  Secretary ;  James  E.  Howes, 
Treasurer ;  Harry  Middlebrook,  Librarian ;  Chester  W. 
Newman,  Assistant-Librarian  ;  Thomas  H.  Messer,  Direc- 
tor Primary  Department,  assisted  by  Miss  Beulah  Messer. 

Musicians:  Miss  H.  G.  Newman,  piano;  Mr.  E.  O. 
Carpenter,  Jr.,  violin  ;  Mr.  C.  H.  Desgrey,  violin. 

Teachers  :  Miss  H.  M.  Blanchard,  Miss  G.  L.  Burns, 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Beckwith,  Miss  E.  Coapman,  Mrs.  W.  Sykes, 
Miss  K.  A.  Graham,  Miss  C.  A.  Mann,  Miss  F.  B.  Drum- 
mon.  Miss  H.  E.  Burns,  Miss  H.  G.  Newman,  Miss  A. 
Okell,  Miss  M.  Palmer,  Miss  D.  Drummon,  Mrs.  A.  T.  Neil, 
Miss  J.  Hull,  Miss  M.  Colgate,  Miss  M.  Holden,  Mrs.  A.  S. 
Hobart,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Colgate,  Miss  F.  J.  Parsons,  Mr.  C.  D. 
Wyman,  Miss  Annie  Kipp,  Miss  E.  F.  Coles,  Miss  Olivia 
Burns,  Miss  E.  G.  Gault,  Mrs.  J.  Irving  Burns,  Miss  N. 
Allen,  Mr.  J.  Tackman,  Mr.  R.  Edie,  Jr.,  Mr.  G.  P.  Holden, 
Mr.  M.  Sherwood,  Mr.  J.  E.  Howes,  Mr.  G.  T.  Leeds,  and 
Mr.  Frank  R.  Hathaway. 

Sub-Teachers,  etc.  :  Miss  P.  Van  Tassell,  Miss  H.  A. 
Middlebrook,  Miss  M.  L.  Fuller,  Mr.  A.  D.  Ballard,  Miss  L. 
East. 


212  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  facts  concerning  the  organization  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers  have  been  obtained  from 
the  historical  discourse  preached  by  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith, 
D.  D.,  on  Sunday  morning  July  2,  1876,  and  by  correspond- 
ence with  several  of  the  early  members  of  the  church. 

The  sermon  was  delivered  in  compliance  with  the 
request  of  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  "that  the 
first  wSabbath  in  July,  1876,  be  observed  as  a  day  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving  to  God  for  the  manifold  blessings  with 
which  he  has  crowned  us  as  a  people  ;  and  that  the  pastor 
of  each  church  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Assembly  de- 
liver, on  that  day,  a  discourse  on  the  history  of  that  particu- 
lar church." 

After  a  general  introduction  in  regard  to  the  patriotic 
and  religious  observance  of  this  great  national  anniversary 
season,  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  said : 

"On  the  26th  of  April,  1852,  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Yonkers  was  duly  organized.  The  Rev.  David 
Coe,  D.  D.,  secretary  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  presided  at  the  meeting  at  which  the  church  was 
organized— though  the  certificate  of  incorporation,  signed 
by  David  Stewart  and  Lemuel  W.  Wells,  is  dated  April  20. 
It  was  composed  entirely  of  persons  who  were  then  in  the 
communion  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  They  had  there 
found  a  home  which  accorded  more  nearly  with  their 
ecclesiastical  preferences  than  any  which  could  be  afforded 
them  by  the  other  churches  of  the  village ;  but  their  early 
associations  and  preferences  prepared  them,  when  the  way 
seemed  providentially  opened,  to  seek  the  communion  of  a 
distinct  though  kindred  body. 

"  It  was  at  first  believed  that  the  entire  church  was 
ready  to  transfer  its  relations  to  the  Presbyterian  General 
Assembly.* 

*  The  following  minute  is  from  the  church  record  book :  "  September 
2,  1851,  a  meeting  was  called  for  full  discussion  of  the  point  suggested  by 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  213 

"  At  the  date  already  given,  a  meeting  of  the  church 
adopted  a  formal  resolution  to  change  its  ecclesiastical  con- 
nection. The  name  which  we  now  bear  was  adopted,  and 
the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  were  taken  as  the 
basis  of  the  new  organization,  which  was  duly  recognized 
by  the  third  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  received  under 
its  care  on  the  loth  of  May,  1852,  just  a  fortnight  after  the 
change  had  been  effected.  This  transfer  included  the 
pastor,  the  Rev.  D wight  M.  Seward,  who  had  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Dutch  Church  on  the  3d  of  December,  1850,  and 
had  been  installed  by  the  Classis  of  New  York  on  the  12th 
of  February,  1851.  The  pastoral  relation  continued  there- 
fore undisturbed,  and  called  for  no  action  on  the  part  of  the 
Presbytery.  The  members  of  the  Consistory  had  resigned 
their  places,  and  Messrs.  Lemuel  W.  Wells  and  Samuel  S. 
Barry  were  chosen  ruling  elders.  The  term  of  service  of 
these  officers  was  fixed  at  two  years,  and  this  provision 
continued  in  force  until  the  annual  meeting  of  the  church 
in  1875,  when  the  period  of  service  was  extended  to  three 
years. 

"  It  soon  became  apparent,  however,  that  the  action  of 
April  26th  had  not  in  fact  carried  with  it,  or  at  least  had  not 
continued  to  command,  the  assent  of  the  entire  church. 
Negotiations  followed  with  a  view  to  the  adjustment  of  all 
the  interests  involved,  on  a  basis  mutually  satisfactory. 
The  church  buildijig,  the  same  which  still  stands  on  South 
Broadway,  though  it  has  since  then  been  enlarged  and 
beautified,  was  relinquished  to  those  who  desired  to  per- 
petuate the  old  organization.  The  records  were  delivered 
to  the  custody  of  the  new  Consistory.  Our  own  church 
retained  the  building  then  used  as  a  parsonage  ;  but  it  was 
without  an  established  place  of  worship  from  the  close  of 
vSunday,  September  19,  1852,  until  the  24  of  May,  1854." 

After  the  withdrawal  of  the  members  from  the  Re- 
formed Church  and  congregation,  who  comprised  the  first 
congregation  of  this  church,  steps  were  taken  to  secure 
a  place  of  worship.  The  pastor,  Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  and 
people  of  the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church  kindly  tendered 

your  circumstances  and  voted  with  unanimity  to  change  the  denominational 
relations." 


214  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

to  them  the  use  of  their  church  for  Sunday  afternoons. 
This  very  generous  offer  was  respectfully  declined  with 
a  vote  of  thanks. 

They  having  secured  a  hall  in  the  Getty  House,  their 
services  were  held  there  on  Sunday  morning,  September 
19,  1852. 

When  the  question  of  the  site  was  agitated  for  this 
new  church  building  some  of  the  friends  of  the  enterprise 
were  in  favor  of  selecting  that  where  the  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church  now  stands,  but  the  majority  decided 
upon  the  present  location — on  North  Broadway  corner  of 
Quincy  Place.  The  site  was  very  generously  given  by  Mr. 
Ethan  Flagg.  David  Burns,  who  for  a  number  of  years 
was  the  energetic  and  efficient  sexton,  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Flagg,  broke  the  ground  for  the  foundation  of  the 
church  building. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  commenced  November 
15,  1853,  ^^^  ^^®  corner-stone  was  laid  on  June  22,  1853. 
Of  that  event  a  former  member  of  the  church  writes  from 
Denver,  Col.,  April  30,  1888:  "I  remember  the  day  was 
very  sultry,  followed,  at  the  time  of  the  ceremony,  by  a 
severe  storm.  So  the  service  was  adjourned  to  the  Method- 
ist Church  on  North  Broadway." 

Rev.  Dr.  Tyng  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield  took  part  in 
the  services.  A  dedicatory  hymn,  written  for  the  occasion 
by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Seward,  was  also  sung  at  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone. 

The  church  was  dedicated  May  24,  1854,  Rev.  Asa  D. 
Smith,  D.  D.,  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  At  these 
services  the  choir  chanted  the  following  selection  from  the 
24th  Psalm :  "  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates,  even  lift 
them  up,  ye  everlasting  doors,  and  the  King  of  glory  shall 
come  in.  Who  is  the  King  of  glory  ?  The  Lord  of  hosts, 
he  is  the  King  of  glory.     Selah." 

On  a  white  marble  tablet  over  the  main  entrance  to  the 
church  is  inscribed,  "  First  Presbyterian  Church.  Erected 
A.  D.,  1853." 

The  bell  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  $578,  from  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  of  pews,  on  May  29,  1854.  The  first 
pew  was  purchased  by  Lemuel  Watts  Wells,  for  $1,000. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  21$ 

The  entire  cost  of  the  church,  including  furniture,  but  ex- 
cluding the  ground,  was  $32,330. 

The  following  persons  composed  the  building  commit- 
tee :  Ethan  Flagg,  Robert  P.  Getty,  James  Scrymser,  John 
Olmsted  and  Joseph  S.  Hawkins.  The  architect  was  Thos. 
C.  Cornell  and  the  builders  Messrs.  Millard  &  Post,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

The  debt  of  the  church  after  its  dedication  in  1854 
was  $16,000.  The  building  was  originally  constructed 
without  galleries,  but  these  were  introduced  in  1 860,  chiefly 
to  remedy  a  defect  in  the  acoustics  of  the  building.  The 
work  was  completed  December  8,  at  a  cost,  including 
other  changes,  of  about  $3,400.  A  necessary  alteration 
of  these  galleries  and  of  the  ceiling,  completed  in  Octo- 
ber, 1868,  entailed  a  farther  expenditure  of  $3,350;  while 
in  1869,  by  generous  private  subscription,  the  pulpit  and 
recess  of  the  church  were  entirely  remodelled  at  a  cost 
of  $422. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  brief  review  of  the  pastorates 
and  work  of  the  church,  spoke  as  follows  of  Dr.  Seward's 
ministrations :  "  During  Dr.  Seward's  ministry,  342  per- 
sons were  received  by  letter  from  other  churches  of  Christ, 
and  178  were  added  on  profession  of  their  faith,  a  yearly 
average  of  nearly  19  by  letter  and  nearly  10  on  profession. 

"In  January,  1858,  eighteen  members  of  the  First 
Church  received  letters  of  dismission,  and  were  organized 
on  the  3d  of  February,  by  the  Third  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  into  the  '  Westminster  Church.' 

"  The  first  period  of  our  history  that  was  marked  by  an 
unusual  religious  interest  occurred  in  1858,  a  year  memora- 
ble, as  many  of  you  will  recall,  for  a  work  of  grace  which 
spread  through  the  entire  land,  and  which  was  distin- 
guished by  some  peculiar  and  interesting  features — notably 
among  these,  the  great  attention  given  to  prayer,  and  the 
striking  development  of  the  spiritual  power  of  the  laity. 
In  that  year  56  professed  their  faith  in  Christ  in  this  sanc- 
tuary. 

"  The  next  most  fruitful  year  in  this  respect  was  1868. 
when  1 7  were  added  on  profession  •,  while  the  following 
year,  1869,  was  marked  by  a  similar  addition  of  15. 


2l6  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  It  is  a  fact  which  strikingly  illustrates  the  changeable 
character  of  our  population,  that  during  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Seward,  i8i  communicants  were  dismissed  to  other 
churches,  including  one  who  was  ordained  to  the  gospel 
ministry.  This  number  constitutes  nearly  one-third  of  the 
entire  list  as  it  stood  at  the  close  of  his  pastoral  work. 

"  During  the  same  time,  also,  42  communicants  were 
called  away  by  death,  making  the  total  reduction  in  num- 
bers 223,  and  leaving  on  the  roll,  in  June,  1870,  343,  not 
a  few  of  whom,  however,  were  no  longer  resident  within 
the  bounds  of  the  church. 

"  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  the  number  of  adults 
baptized  during  the  period  now  under  review  was  only  1 8, 
or  about  one-tenth  of  the  entire  number  received  on  profes- 
sion ;  a  fact  which  shows  that  by  far  the  greater  proportion 
of  all  who  were  so  received  had  been  members  of  Christian 
households,  and  had  been  subjected  in  greater  or  less  de- 
gree to  those  domestic  religious  influences  which  God's 
covenant  so  greatly  honors,  and  which  are  so  helpful  to 
every  pastor. 

"  The  children  baptized  by  Dr.  .Seward  number  172. 

"  It  was  just  at  the  close  of  Dr.  Seward's  labors  among 
you  that  one  of  the  most  important  events  occurred  which 
distinguish  the  history  of  the  Christian  church  in  this  land. 
I  refer  to  the  union  of  the  two  great  branches  of  the  Pres- 
byterian body  in  these  United  States,  then  popularly  known 
as  the  Old  and  New  School. 

"  This  reunion  involved  in  its  results  the  erection  of 
the  new  Synod  of  New  York,  and  the  Presbytery  of  West- 
chester, of  which  latter  body  the  church  became  a  part  on 
the  2 1  St  of  June,  1870;  the  old  Third  Presbytery  of  New 
York  having  then  been  dissolved  by  the  reconstruction  acts 
of  the  Synod  of  New  York. 

"  The  constitution  of  the  neiv  pastoral  relation  here  de- 
volved, of  course,  upon  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester. 
But  before  it  was  called  to  act  in  such  a  proceeding,  there 
was  an  interval  of  some  months,  during  which  the  church 
was  without  pastoral  care.  It  was  exactly  half  a  year  before 
the  call  was  extended  to  the  present  pastor,  the  date  of  it 
being  December  20,  1870.     The  installation,  however,  did 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  llj 

not  take  place  until  the  first  of  ]\Iarch,  1871.  The  pulpit 
was  occupied  from  January  of  that  year,  but  your  pastor 
did  not  become  resident  among  you  till  the  end  of  April. 

"  During  the  interval  five  persons  were  received  into 
the  communion  of  the  churcH,  three  of  them  by  letter,  and 
two  on  profession  of  faith,  both  of  whom  were  baptized. 
Six  were  dismissed  'to  other  churches,  and  a  like  number 
were  removed  by  death." 

In  regard  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith's  not  completed  pastorate, 
he  says  in  his  discourse  : 

"  Of  my  own  ministry  among  you  it  becomes  me  to  say 
nothing,  further  than  to  give  you  those  bare  statistics  with- 
out which  the  requisite  history  would  not  be  complete. 
The  present  pastoral  relation  has  now  subsisted  just  five 
years  and  four  months.  The  whole  number  of  additions  to 
our  communion  during  this  period  has  been  165,  an  ave- 
rage of  almost  exactly  3 1  for  each  year.  Of  these,  70  have 
been  received  from  other  churches  by  certificate,  and  95 
have  been  admitted  on  profession  of  faith ;  making  an 
annual  average  of  rather  more  than  1 3  by  letter  and  nearly 
18  on  profession.  The  two  most  fruitful  years  in  the  way 
of  additions  were  1874  and  1875,  in  each  of  which,  besides 
additions  by  letter,  31  who  gave  hopeful  evidences  of  con- 
version were  received  to  the  privileges  of  the  church.  And 
already,  during  the  present  year,  18  have  here  professed 
their  faith  in  Christ,  The  number  of  adults  I  have  baptized 
on  their  admission  to  the  church  is  19,  and  the  number  of 
infants  baptized  during  my  pastorate  is  63. 

"  Since  my  work  among  you  began  69  members  have 
left  us  for  other  churches,  not  a  few  of  whom  had  already 
removed  and  were  never  really  under  my  pastoral  charge  ; 
and  21  have  deceased. 

•'  Bringing  now  all  the  figures  I  have  so  far  given  into 
one  single  statement,  we  find  that  to  the  original  number  of 
46  communicants,  41 5  have  been  added  by  letter,  and  275  on 
profession,  making  a  total  of  736.  Of  these,  so  far  as 
our  records  indicate,  256  have  been  transferred  to  other 
churches  and  71  have  died,  leaving  still  upon  the  rolls  of 
the  church  the  names  of  409  communicants.  The  average 
annual  addition  since  the  church  was  organized  have  been 


2l8  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

17  by  letter,  and  a  little  over  10  by  profession.  The  aggre- 
gate of  adult  baptisms  is  39,  and  the  whole  number  of  chil- 
dren baptized  is  235." 

It  was  during  Rev.  Dr.  Smith's  pastorate  that  the  first 
manse  with  its  grounds  adjoining  the  church,  a  valuable 
property,  was  purchased  April  1 1,  1871.  It  was  also  during 
that  year  that  a  Mission  Chapel  was  erected  on  Nodine  Hill, 
where  for  some  time  a  devotional  Sunday  afternoon  service 
had  been  carried  on.  The  Dayspring  Chapel  was  dedi- 
cated April  28,  1872.  After  seven  years  of  missionary  labor 
in  connection  with  this,  the  Dayspring  Church  was  organ- 
ized by  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester  on  May  13,  1879. 
Eighty-two  members  of  the  First  Church  received  letters 
of  dismission  to  the  new  church. 

We  find  the  benevolent  gifts  for  twenty-three  years 
amounted  to  $94,438,  an  average  for  each  year  of  $4,106. 

In  compiling  these  statistics  Dr.  Smith  said :  "  I  have 
freely  included  the  private  gifts  of  our  members  to  estab- 
lished Christian  and  charitable  objects  so  far  as  these  have 
been  reported,  although  they  may  not  have  passed  through 
the  treasury  of  the  church  ;  yet  there  are  doubtless  hun- 
dreds and  possibly  thousands  of  dollars  which  have  thus 
been  given  without  my  knowledge,  and  which  would  mate- 
rially swell  the  aggregate  sums  already  stated.  There  is 
not,  however,  included  in  this  presentation  a  dollar  of  the 
amounts  expended  for  our  own  particular  congregational 
uses,  which  of  course  would  reach  a  total  of  many  thou- 
sands more." 

In  concluding  he  said :  "  Such,  dear  brethren,  is  an 
external  view  of  the  history  which  I  am  permitted  to  lay 
before  you.  It  appeals  throughout  to  our  deepest  sense  of 
gratitude,  and  calls  upon  us  to  raise  our  hearts  and  voices 
in  earnest  praise  to  Him  who  has  given  us  these  successes 
and  this  encouraging  prosperity. 

"  If  you  miss  anything  from  this  recital,  it  will  only  be, 
I  imagine,  that  element  in  our  church  life  which  pen  can- 
not record  upon  paper,  and  to  which  the  voice  can  give  no 
adequate  expression. 

"  The  self-denial  so  abundantly  practised  by  the  Chris- 
tion  men  and  women,  who  have  been  as  careful  to  shrink 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  219 

from  notoriety  as  they  have  been  laborious  and  generous 
in  times  of  need,  deprecates  and  indeed  fotbids  any  per- 
sonal and  elaborate  recognition.  Some  of  those  who  have 
made  many  sacrifices  for  the  church  in  its  days  of  early 
need,  have  gone  up  on  high  to  receive  the  approbation  of  a 
Master  whose  lightest  word  infinitely  outweighs  the  loudest 
and  most  prolonged  human  applause.  Others  still  remain, 
to  find  new  joy,  I  trust,  in  new  labors  for  the  Master. 

"  The  revivals  in  the  church  may  be  described  as  to 
their  immediate  tangible  results,  but  who  can  undertake  to 
unfold  their  actual  and  far-reaching  influences  ? 

"  And  who  is  able  to  tell  what  influences  for  good  have 
gone  abroad  from  this  church,  as  one  after  another  has  been 
called  by  his  Lord  to  go  to  another  field,  and  work  out  the 
principles  imbibed  and  the  impulses  received  in  this  sanc- 
tuary ? 

"  I  leave  all  these  things  from  very  necessity  to  your 
own  thoughts.  Written  history  is  a  thread  upon  which 
every  man,  woman,  and  child  may  hang  a  jewel  that  the 
hand  which  stretched  the  thread  could  not  supply ;  and  so 
to  you  and  me  there  is  a  wealth  in  the  story  of  our  church 
—some  of  it  yours  and  some  of  it  mine — which  makes  it 
more  precious  than  any  array  of  facts,  however  opulent, 
can  render  it  to  a  stranger." 

During  the  summer  of  1880  the  chapel  in  the  rear  of 
the  church  was  erected.  On  the  first  floor  is  a  lecture- 
room,  pastor's  study,  and  session-room.  All  these  are  con- 
veniently and  attractively  furnished.  On  the  second  floor 
are  rooms  for  the  Sunday-school,  the  Primary  Department, 
and  the  library.  There  are  two  entrances  to  the  chapel, 
one  on  the  south  through  the  grounds  of  the  manse,  and 
the  other,  the  main  entrance,  on  Quincy  Place. 

The  interior  of  the  church  was  at  the  same  time 
greatly  improved  and  beautified,  being  frescoed  and  sup- 
plied with  stained-glass  windows,  the  gift  of  William  Allen 
Butler.  It  was  newly  carpeted  throughout  through  the 
generosity  of  Charles  Lockwood,  and  the  organ  gallery 
fitted  up  with  pews,  the  organ  having  been  removed  to  the 
rear  of  the  pulpit. 

A  meeting  of  the  church  and  congregation  was  held 


220  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

on  Thursday  evening,  February  14,  1884,  in  the  lecture- 
room  for  the  |)urpose  of  receiving  a  communication  which 
had  been  sent  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  by  Waker  W,  Law, 
Esq.  This  communication  contained  an  offer  by  Mr.  Law 
to  purchase  and  cancel  the  existing  indebtedness  of  the 
church,  amounting  to  $10,000,  provided  the  pastor's  salary 
be  increased  by  the  amount  of  the  interest  on  the  $10,000. 

William  Allen  Butler  was  appointed  chairman  of  the 
meeting  and  J.  W.  Skinner  secretary. 

After  the  reading  of  Mr.  Law's  proposition  it  was 
unanimously 

Resolved,  That  this  magnificent  offer  of  Mr.  Law  is 
hereby  accepted  and  the  yearly  salary  of  Rev.  John  Reid, 
pastor  of  this  church,  be  increased  by  the  amount  of  inter- 
est formerly  paid  on  the  loan  as  long  as  he  shall  remain 
pastor  of  the  church  and  congregation,  this  increase  to 
date  from  the  15th  of  February,  1884. 

Resolved,  That  the  trustees  of  this  church  and  congre- 
gation carry  into  effect  the  foregoing  resolution. 

Thereupon  the  bonds  were  produced,  certified  checks 
for  the  amount  passed,  and  the  bonds  delivered  to  Mr. 
Law. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  Mr.  Reid  that  a  fire  was 
burning  in  the  study  adjacent,  Mr.  Law  took  the  bonds  and 
committed  them  to  the  flames  in  the  presence  of  the  trus- 
tees and  the  pastor. 

Mr.  Reid  then  reported  to  the  congregation  that  the 
bonds  had  been  offered  up  as  a  most  acceptable  burnt- 
offering  and  that  nothing  was  left  of  them. 

Mr.  Butler,  the  chairman,  congratulated  the  meeting 
on  this  happy  result. 

Mr.  Law  said :  "  It  is  a  matter  of  satisfaction  that  my 
proposition  has  been  attended  with  such  good  results.  It 
is  a  part  of  our  Christian  faith  that  all  our  talents  and 
property,  all  we  have  and  are,  belong  to  the  Master.  We 
are  commanded  to  use  them  for  Him  who  redeemed  us.  I 
should  be  wanting  in  duty  if  I  should  assume  this  gift  as 
from  myself  alone.  I  owe  it  to  the  instructions  and  prayers 
of  a  blessed  mother,  which  are  always  before  me,  that  I  am 
able   to  give.      I  want  also  to  sustain  our  pastor  in  the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  221 

preaching  of  the  word  at  this  time,  when  there  is  much  of 
critical  and  religious  doubt  and  scientific  religion.  Many 
are  leading  some  to  doubt  the  existence  of  a  Father  in 
heaven.  I  want  to  uphold  one  who  upholds  the  truth.  I 
hope  this  will  be  the  beginning  of  better  days,  if  God  gives 
us  the  opportunity  of  doing  good.  Let  us  say,  '  Not  unto 
us, but  unto  Thy  name, be  all  the  praise.'  " 

Mr.  Lucius  E.  Clark  said  he  thought  it  would  be  well 
to  follow  up  the  burnt-offering  with  a  thank-offering.  This 
could  be  in  the  shape  of  a  subscription  for  a  new  manse. 

At  Mr.  Clark's  suggestion  a  subscription  was  started 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  manse ;  contributions 
were  received  from  fifteen  persons,  amounting  in  the 
aggregate  to  $3,300,  and  a  committee  of  five — Lucius  E. 
Clark,  John  Watt,  Alexander  Halliday,  William  Allen 
Butler,  Jr.,  and  Alonzo  H.  Johnson — were  appointed  to 
solicit  subscriptions  to  the  new  manse. 

The  following  notice  in  regard  to  this  auspicious  event 
appeared  in  the  "  New  York  Examiner  and  Chronicle,"  the 
organ  of  the  Baptist  Church  : 

"  Mr.  Walter  W.  Law,  of  the  firm  of  W.  &  J.  Sloane, 
offered  to  pay  the  debt  of  $10,000  on  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Yonkers,  on  condition  that  the  amount  of  inter- 
est on  the  loan  should  be  added  to  the  pastor's  salary.  The 
condition  was  promptly  met,  and  under  the  influence  of 
this  deed  of  generosity  a  committee  was  appointed  to  build 
a  new  manse,  a  thing  beautiful  in  itself  and  made  all  the 
more  beautiful  in  the  way  in  which  it  was  done  and  what 
has  grown  out  of  it." 

In  1 884  the  former  manse  was  removed  and  the  pres- 
ent brick  structure  was  erected  in  its  stead.  On  the  front 
of  this  building  is  a  brown  stone  tablet  on  which  is  in- 
scribed, "  A.  D.  1884."  The  members  of  the  Sunday-school 
contributed  $200  to  a  mantel  for  the  manse.  The  church 
property  is  beautifully  located  and  is  entirely  free  from 
debt,  1 89 1. 

The  spacious  auditorium  will  seat  about  a  thousand. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  church  and  congregation 
held  in  April,  1891,  steps  were  taken  towards  purchasing  a 
new  organ  and  entirely  redecorating  the  edifice. 


222  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


(Mm 


^^^^m^^^m  m,^M^M&.is    amm 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  223 

The  affairs  of  the  Missionary  Association,  organized 
November  2,  1871,  are  confided  to  an  executive  committee 
of  twelve,  composed  of  the  six  elders  of  the  church,  and 
six  members  to  be  elected  annually  by  the  association. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  is  ex-officio  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee and  president  of  the  association. 

The  following  gentlemen  are  the  members  of  the  exec- 
utive committee  of  the  Missionary  Association  having  this 
under  their  charge  : 

The  Pastor,  ex-officio. 

L.  E.  Clark,  W.  W.  Law,  Cliairman,     • 

Theodore  Oilman,  W.  R.  Mott,  Secretary, 

Hezekiah  King,  W.  Olmsted,  Treasurer, 

O.  L.  Morse,  F.  D.  Blake, 

R.  E.  Prime,  W.  A.  Butler,  Jr., 

O.  A.  Chamberlin,  [vacancy]. 

In  1886  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  mission  chapel  on 
Nepperhan  Avenue,  north  of  Ashburton  Avenue,  in  which 
neighborhood  Sunday-school  and  other  religious  ser\dces 
had  for  about  two  years  been  conducted  by  members  of  the 
church. 

In  May,  1887,  the  services  of  Rev.  John  S.  Penman 
were  secured  as  assistant  to  the  pastor  in  connection  with 
the  work  of  Immanuel  Chapel.  Rev.  Mr.  Penman  having 
resigned  in  January,  1888,  his  resignation  was  accepted, 
and  in  May,  1888,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  J.  Hen- 
drik  de  Vries.  This  call  was  accepted,  and  Rev.  Mr.  de 
Vries  entered  upon  his  labors  as  assistant  to  Pastor  Reid, 
and  took  charge  of  the  Immanuel  Chapel  work  in  June. 
1888. 

In  1887  a  beautiful  crimson  plush  mounting  was  placed 
around  the  galleries,  and  the  three  rows  of  cushioned  bench 
seats  along  the  length  of  the  gallery  were  removed,  except, 
a  section  at  the  west  ends  next  the  pulpit,  which  remains 
as  before. 

The  space  occupied  by  these  three  rows  of  seats  was 
apportioned  into  compartments,  furnished  with  movable 
chairs ;  the  floor  is  level,  so  that  the  chairs  can  be  placed  in 
any  position  the  sitter  prefers.  "  The  compartments  are 
finely  carpeted  and  handsomely  finished.      They  are  fur- 


224  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

nished  with  handsome  oak  chairs,  upholstered  in  brown 
leather. 

There  have  been  in  this  church  three  pastors,  including 
to  date  thirty-eight  years  of  pastoral  labor.  They  are  : 
Rev.  Dwight  M.  Seward,  D.  D.,  May  lo,  1852,  to  June  20, 
1870;  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  March  i,  1871,  to 
March  31,  1879;  Rev.  John  Reid,  installed  November  6, 
1879. 

The  total  membership  of  the  church  from  the  begin- 
ning has  been  1,333.  The  number  of  communicants  at 
present  is  591  ;  483  have  been  received  during  the  present 
pastorate — 222  on  profession  and  261  by  certificate. 

Rev.  John  Reid,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  youngest  son  of  Robert  and  Jean  Wallace  Reid, 
was  born  in  St.  John,  N.  B.,  November  19,  1850.  His 
parents  were  both  of  Scotch  birth.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  New  York  city  and  prepared  for  college 
at  the  University  Grammar  School  under  Moses  M.  Hobby. 
He  entered  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  the 
fall  of  1866,  was  graduated  in  June,  1870,  entered  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  in  the  fall  of  1 870,  graduating  there- 
from in  April,  1873.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange  and  ordained  by  them 
May  6,  1873.  After  two  brief  pastorates,  which  were  both 
made  short  by  illness  in  his  family,  he  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years.  From  there  he  was  called 
to  this  church  and  was  installed  as  its  pastor  November  6, 
1879.  He  was  moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey  City 
in  1876,  was  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
1877,  held  in  Chicago,  and  also  to  that  of  1884,  held  in 
Saratoga,  and  to  the  Presbyterian  Centennial  Assembly 
held  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  May,  1888,  of  which  he 
was  made  first  temporary  clerk.  He  was  also  appointed 
one  of  the  representatives  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  by 
that  Assembly,  to  the  Alliance  of  the  Reformed  Churches 
holding  the  Presbyterian  System  which  was  held  in  Exeter 
Hall,  London,  July,  1888.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Di- 
vinity was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  June   14,   1888,  and  he  was   elected  a 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  225 

member  of  the  Council  of  that  University,  November  9, 
1889.  Rev.  Dr.  Reid  is  possessed  of  gifts  which  make  a 
strong-  preacher.  With  a  vivacious  intellect  well  culti- 
vated and  stored  with  knowledge,  his  sermons  show  pains- 
taking preparation  and  are  models  of  choice  language, 
being  enriched  with  gleanings  from  his  extensive  readings. 
They  may  be  characterized  as  spiritual,  the  aim  of  them 
being  to  set  forth  the  inner  sense  of  the  Word  of  God, 
realizing  that  it  is  the  Spirit  which  maketh  alive. 

His  style  is  elegant  and  finished,  his  oratory  is  grace- 
ful and  effective,  his  manner  is  marked  by  a  calm  persua- 
siveness and  the  dignity  of  self-control,  always  regarding 
the  sanctity  of  the  pulpit.  This  is  noticeable  in  the  mo- 
ments of  his  most  fervent  eloquence.  Loyal  to  Christ  and 
his  Gospel,  he  is  ready  to  defend  the  right  as  it  is  given  him 
to  know  it. 

As  a  pastor  he  is  faithful  and  tender,  extending  his 
personal  ministrations  where  they  are  most  needed  as  well 
as  where  they  are  most  welcome. 

The  standing  he  has  attained  where  he  is  best  known, 
and  the  strong  friends  he  has  made,  are  but  an  index  to 
the  faithful  manner  in  which  he  has  wrought  in  God's 
vineyard.  During  Dr.  Reid's  incumbency  there  have  been 
added  to  the  church  membership  483,  and  more  than  $200,- 
000  have  been  contributed  to  congregational  and  benevo- 
lent purposes. 

A  commodious  chapel  has  been  added  to  the  church,  a 
substantial  and  beautiful  manse  erected,  and  a  mission 
chapel  built.  The  increased  membership  and  large  attend- 
ance of  the  congregation  attest  the  acceptability  of  his 
pastorate.  By  the  request  of  his  congregation.  Dr.  Reid 
wears  a  Geneva  gown  in  his  pulpit  ministrations. 

On  Thursday  evening  November  7,  1889,  the  ladies  of 
the  Missionary  Society  of  the  church  tendered  a  reception 
in  observance  of  the  tenth  anniversary  of  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Reid's  installation  as  pastor.  The  attendance  was  large 
and  the  pleasures  of  the  evening  were  continuous.  During 
the  evening  Dr.  Reid  was  presented  with  a  $1,000  bond  as 
a  gift  from  his  people.  William  Allen  Butler  made  the 
presentation  speech  and  said : 

Sundsy-schDol  Work.  X  ^^ 


226  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  The  object  that  has  brought  us  together  is  of  interest 
to  all.  Ten  years  is  a  long  time  in  the  history  of  this 
church.  We  have  been  greatly  favored,  in  the  past,  in  all 
the  pastors  who  have  served  the  church.  It  is  not  often  a 
layman  has  an  opportunity  to  publicly  talk  to  his  pastor. 
This  is  my  first  opportunity  in  ten  years,  and  I  shall  be 
careful,  for  I  know  not  what  may  come  during  the  next 
ten  years.  I  think  the  preaching  we  have  had  during  the 
last  ten  years  will  compare  with  that  from  any  pulpit  in 
the  land.  I  think  I  can  safely  say  that  we  have  been  in- 
terested, edified,  and  profited.  Mr.  Reid  came  to  us  a 
young  man.  He  was  subjected  to  that  criticism  always 
bestowed  on  one  in  so  public  a  position.  He  fairly  won 
our  confidence,  esteem,  and  affection." 

Dr.  Reid  responded  in  a  very  humorous  vein,  and  in 
closing  said : 

"This  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  received  loving 
tokens  of  affection  from  this  people.  It  is  with  the  full- 
ness of  love  and  with  all  my  heart  that  I  say  '  Thank 
you !'  May  God's  blessing  cement  the  ties  that  bind 
pastor  and  people  together." 

OFFICERS   OF   THE   CHURCH    FROM    THE   ORGANIZATION. 

Rtiling  Elders. 

Lemuel  W.  Wells,  Ralph  E.  Prime, 

Samuel  S.  Barry,  Charles  Lockwood, 

Samuel  D.  Rockwell,  William  A.  Gibson, 

Josiah  Rich,  Augustus  Cruikshank, 

William  C.  Foote,  John  W.  Skinner,t 

Hudson  Kinsley,  M.  D.,  •     Walter  W.  Law, 

Jesse  H.  Tyler,  Gabriel  P.  Reevs, 

William  G.  West,  Lucius  E.  Clark, 

Stephen  H.  Thayer,  Theodore  Gilman, 

Jonathan  F.  Travis,  Walter  Graves, 

Richard  Wynkoop,  G.  Livingstone  Morse,* 
George  A.  Chamberlin. 

*  Deceased  January  12,  1891. 

t  Extract  from  the  Annual  Report,  1889,  of  the  Cliildren's  Aid  Society 
of  New  York  :  "  Mr.  Skinner  was  one  of  those  who  lived  'in  Christ,'  and 
spent  his  life  for  the  poorest  of  New  York.  He  was  superintendent  of  the 
Industrial  Schools  of  the  Children's  Aid  Society,  which  place  he  had  filled 
for  twenty-two  years,  having  under  his  charge  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
about  10,000  different  children,  in  21  day-schools  and  14  night-schools,  with 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  22/ 

Deacons. 
Duncan  MacFarlane,  John  Thomson, 

John  Nairn,  Patrick  Kelly, 

Ralph  Shipman,  John  W.  Rockwell, 

William  Thompson,  Evert  B.  Schoonmaker, 

Clinton  M.  Davis,  G.  Livingstone  Morse, 

Richard  Wynkoop,  Robert  M.  Reevs, 

Thomas  H.  Cuthell,  Alonzo  H.Johnson, 

Thomas  Adam. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows : 

Ruling  Elders. 
L.  E.  Clark,  R.  E.  Prime, 

T.  Oilman,  G.  A.  Chamberlin. 

H.  King,  Clerk  ajid  Treasurer. 

Deacons. 
John  Thomson,  R.  M.  Reevs, 

E.  B.  Schoonmaker,  Thomas  Adam. 

J.  Thomson,  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 

Trustees. 

W.  F.  Nisbet,  Pres.     G.  A.  Chamberlin,  Sec.  W.  Olmsted,  Treas. 

John  Jardine,  W.  B.  Strang,  Adoniram  Clark, 

H.  H.  Thayer,  Geo.  A.  Flagg,  J.  G.  Beemer. 

Members  of  the  Music  Committee  appointed  by  the 
church  session  : 

The  Pastor,  Chairman,  W.  W.  Ellsworth, 

Wells  Olmsted,  Sec.  and  Treas.  Perit  C.  Myers. 

The  following  persons,  assisted  by  a  chorus  of  sixteen 
largely  from  the  membership  of  the  church,  composed  the 
choir :  Albert  E.  Greenhalgh,  Organist  and  Conductor ; 
Mrs.  A.  E.  Greenhalgh,  Soprano ;  Mrs.  P.  C.  Myers,  Con- 
tralto;  Harry  Rawcliffe,  Tenor;  Frank  E.  De  Prate,  Basso. 

more  than  loo  teachers.  Every  teacher  of  the  large  force  of  the  Society 
has  looked  upon  Mr.  Skinner  as  her  personal  friend,  and  the  schools  were 
filled  with  tearful  children  at  the  news  of  his  departure.  The  most  touch- 
ing offering  at  his  funeral  was  his  own  chair  filled  with  roses,  a  gift  of  the 
little  wandering  Italians  of  the  West  Side,  as  if  they  would  say  that  'after 
this  no  one  was  worthy  to  occupy  this  seat.'  Amid  all  the  grief  at  his 
death,  no  tears  were  so  sincere  and  heartfelt  as  those  among  the  outcast 

and  destitute  children  of  this  great  city His  special  qualities  were 

faithfulness,  disinterestedness,  and  universal  courtesy  to  others,  traits 
which  sprang  especially  from  the  deep  well  of  piety  of  his  own  heart.  He 
leaves  the  memories  of  a  life  crowned  with  usefulness,  filled  with  the 
service  of  humanity,  glorified  by  patient  and  disinterested  labors,  and  over- 
flowing with  the  love  of  Christ  and  of  God." 


228  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

This  choir  was  succeeded  in  May,  1891,  by  a  boy  choir  of 
about  twenty-five  members  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Le  Jeune,  of  St.  John's  Church,  New  York,  with  Mr.  Felix 
Lamond  as  organist. 

The  organ  now  in  use  was  built  by  Hall  &  Labaugh 
in  1854,  at  a  cost  (as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the 
records)  of  $2,000.  It  was  remodeled  by  George  W.  Earle 
in  1876,  at  an  expense  of  $1,475. 

The  ushers  are  Messrs.  J.  E.  Jardine  and  H.  G. 
Waring. 

The  Ladies'  Missionary  Association  of  the  church  was 
organized  in  1882  and  is  composed  of  three  branches,  repre- 
senting the  Home,  the  Foreign,  and  the  Local  mission 
work  of  the  church.  Its  first  officers  were :  Miss  Mary  M. 
Butler,  President;  Mrs.  William  Allen  Butler,  Miss  Mari- 
etta Flagg,  Miss  Anna  H.  Satterlee,  Vice-Presidents ;  Miss 
Kate  S.  Hawley,  Secretary,  Miss  F.  L.  Upham,  Treasurer. 

The  Helping  Hand  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1887. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Associa- 
tion, April,  1 891,  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  F.  D.  Blake,  Presi- 
dent; Mrs.  G.  H.  Chamberlin,  Mrs,T.  M.  Lyall,  Miss  A.  H. 
Satterlee,  Vice-Presidents;  Miss  Kate  S.  Hawley,  Secre- 
tary; Miss  Maria  Ewing,  Treasurer;  Mrs.  G.  B.  Balch, 
Missionary  Visitor.  It  has  a  membership  of  127.  It  raised 
for  home,  foreign,  and  local  work  in  1 888-1 889,  $1,104  83^ 
and  in  1 889-1 890,  $1,160. 

SCHEME   OF   THE   BENEVOLENT   CONTRIBUTIONS   OF  THE 
CHURCH. 

Collections  are  made  on  the  morning  of  the  first    Lord's  Day  in  the 
month. 

April,        -  -            -               Aid  for  Colleges  and  Academies. 

May,  -            -            -            -      Education  for  the  Ministry. 

June,          ..----  Bible  Society. 

July,  ...---        Sustentation. 

August,  ...            -            -                Publication. 

September,  .            .            .             .             .            Freedman. 

October,  .            -            .            .      American  Tract  Society. 

November,  .            .            -            .               Home  Missions. 

December,  -----      Ministerial  Relief. 

January,  -----            Foreign  Missions. 

February,  .            .            -            -            -        Church  Erection. 

March,  -----            Immanuel  Chapel. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  229 

The  first  pulpit  Bible  of  this  church  is  now  used  as  the 
chapel  Bible.  On  the  cover  is  inscribed :  "  First  Presby- 
terian Church."  On  the  fly  leaf  is  written  :  "  Presented  by 
John  Davidson,  Yonkers,  May  21,  185 1." 

The  present  pulpit  Bible  is  a  very  handsome  one.  It 
is  an  Oxford  Bible  and  contains  the  Apocrypha.  On  the 
cover  is  inscribed  :  "  First  Presbyterian  Church."  It  was  a 
present  from  Philetus  H.  Holt,  May  24,  1854. 

The  communion  table  was  presented  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Richard  W.  Bogart.  It  bears  this  inscription  in  raised  let- 
ters :  "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me." 

The  baptismal  font  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  William  Allen 
Butler  and  it  has  inscribed  thereon  :  "  One  Lord,  one  faith, 
one  baptism." 

Peter  H.  Havey  has  been  the  efficient  sexton  of  this 
church  for  the  past  seven  years,  prior  to  which  he  was  the 
assistant  to  William  H.  Veitch,  who  was  the  sexton  for 
several  years. 

CALENDAR   OF   CHURCH    SERVICES. 

Divine  service  on  the  Lord's  day  at  10:45  A.  M.  and  4  P.  M. 

Sabbath-school  at  9:30  A.  M. 

Beginning  September  4  the  hour  of  morning  service  is 
at  II  o'clock;  Sabbath-school,  9:45. 

Weekly  service  of  prayer  and  praise  on  Wednesday,  at 
8  P.  M. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  last  Lord's 
day  in  January,  March,  May,  July,  September,  and  Novem- 
ber, in  the  afternoon. 

Service  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper  on  the 
Wednesday  preceding,  at  8  P.  M. 

Public  baptism  of  infants  on  the  morning  of  the  Lord's 
day  next  succeeding  the  communion. 

The  regular  meeting  of  the  church  session  is  held  on 
the  first  Monday  of  each  month,  at  8  P.  M.  The  meeting 
for  admitting  members  to  the  church,  at  the  close  of  each 
preparatory  service. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  church  for  the  election  of 
elders  and  deacons  is  held  on  the  Wednesday  evening  next 
succeeding  the  second  Lord's  day  in  March. 


230  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  church  and  congregation 
for  the  election  of  trustees  and  other  business  is  held  on 
the  Wednesday  evening  next  succeeding  the  first  Lord's 
day  in  May. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  school,  the  ninth  in  order  of  the  Sunday-schools 
of  Yonkers,  was  organized  in  September,  1852.  Lemuel 
Watts  Wells  and  Duncan  Macfarlane  were  prominent  lead- 
ers in  this  new  enterprise,  and  much  of  the  success  and 
prosperity  of  the  school  in  the  early  days  of  its  history, 
were  due  to  the  zeal  and  efficiency  of  these  veteran  Sun- 
day-school workers.  The  first  session  of  the  school  was 
held  in  the  Getty  Lyceum,  a  public  hall  in  the  Getty  House 
(which  was  built  in  185 1-2  by  Robert  P.  Getty),  located  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  Mechanic  Street  (now  New  Main 
Street)  and  South  Broadway. 

Lemuel  Watts  Wells  was  the  first  superintendent,  and 
the  following  persons,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  were 
among  the  teachers  who  taught  in  the  Getty  Lyceum: 
Samuel  S.  Barry,  Ralph  Shipman,  Ethan  Flagg,  Dr. 
Levi  W.  Flagg,  Samuel  D.  Rockwell,*  Miss  Lucy  Flagg, 
Mrs.  William  L.  Atwater,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  A.  Under- 
wood. 

The  school  was  held  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  numbered  between  fifty  and  sixty  scholars.  It  contin- 
ued to  meet  in  this  hall  until  the  lecture-room  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  church  edifice  on  North  Broadway  (now  the 
corner  of  Quincy  Place  and  North  Broadway)  was  com- 
pleted. May  24,  1854. 

*  Samuel  Darling  Rockwell  entered  into  the  rest  that  remaineth  for 
the  people  of  God,  on  Friday,  March  23,  1888.  Mr.  Rockwell  was  born  in 
Ridgefield,  Conn.,  January  23,  1810.  In  1845  he  came  to  Yonkers  and 
erected  a  dwelling  house  on  North  Broadway,  where  the  Presbyterian 
manse  now  stands.  Mr.  Rockwell  was  always  intimately  connected  with 
all  schemes  for  public  improvement  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Yonkers  Savings  Bank,  and  became  its  cashier.  He  was  also  especially 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  tlie  public  scliools.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  an  honored  and 
esteemed  member.  Mr.  Rockwell  was  chosen  ruling  elder  in  this  church 
in  1854,  and  faithfully  served  the  church  in  this  capacity  until  July,  1876, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years,  from  1867  to  1871. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  23 1 

The  superintendent,  Lemuel  W.  Wells,  taught  a  class 
when  the  school  met  in  the  Getty  Lyceum,  also  Miss  Mc- 
Williams  and  Rev.  Henry  M.  Baird  (now  Rev.  H.  M.  Baird, 
D.  D.).  The  latter  having  returned  in  the  summer  of  1853 
from  a  trip  to  Greece  and  Italy,  resumed  charge  of  the  class 
of  girls  he  had  before  taught  in  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  Sunday-school,  at  the  request  of  the  scholars,  who 
were  Misses  Mary  E.  Macfarlane,  Anna  Cantrell,  Mary  E. 
Mott,  Sadie  and  Frances  Rockwell,  the  latter  being  the  late 
Mrs.  John  H.  Riker. 

Rev.  Mr.  Baird  taught  this  class  until  he  went  to  be 
tutor  in  Princeton  College,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years — 1855-59.  From  the  time  he  returned  to  Yonkers 
again  (having  been  appointed  professor  in  the  New  York 
University  in  1859)  he  had  Bible  classes,  at  one  time  for 
young  men,  and  at  another  for  young  ladies.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  last  class  which  he  taught,  in  1883,  were  Misses 
Harriet  Butler,  S.  Hermance,  Daniels,  M.  Stewart,  Belle 
Ewing,  J.  Edgar,  Mary  Ketcham,  Marcia  Flagg  (now  Mrs. 
Charles  H.  Butler),  and  Julia  Baird.  Some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  class  are  now  teachers  either  in  the  home  or 
mission  school  connected  with  this  church,  while  others  of 
his  former  classes  are  filling  positions  of  responsibility  and 
usefulness  in  other  fields  of  labor. 

The  school  during  its  early  history  was  noted  for  the 
large  number  of  its  adult  Bible-classes,  Rev.  W.  W.  Rand 
(now  Rev.  Dr.  Rand),  Dr.  Kingsley,  Benjamin  Mason,  and 
George  W.  Francis*  teaching  classes  either  of  young  men 
or  young  ladies. 

*  George  W.  Francis  entered  into  life  eternal  from  his  home  in  Yon- 
kers on  Tuesday  afternoon,  May  i,  1888.  He  was  born  at  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
September  29,  1799.  After  being  graduated  from  WilHams  College  in  1826 
he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1829.  In  1845  he  came  to 
Yonkers  and  took  charge  of  a  school  for  boys.  He  remained  the  success- 
ful teacher  of  this  school  until  i860,  when  he  finally  retired  from  his  profes- 
sion as  teacher  and  entered  into  business.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  for  a  brief  period  a  teacher 
in  its  Sunday-school.  After  his  withdrawal  from  the  Sunday-school  he 
taught  a  class  of  young  men  who  were  connected  with  his  school  which 
met  at  his  residence.  Mr.  Francis  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the  church 
prayer-meeting  so  long  as  his  health  permitted.  He  was  one  of  the  few 
who  are  evergreens  in  the  church  and  who  always  stand  by  its  lamp  when 


232  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Lemuel  W.  Wells  resigned  the  superintendency  of 
this  school  and  was  succeeded  by  Josiah  Rich. 

After  his  retirement  Mr.  Wells  continued  his  connec- 
tion with  the  school  for  a  number  of  years,  taking  charge 
of  a  Bible-class,  his  final  withdrawal  being  occasioned  by 
his  failure  in  health.  He  ever  manifested  a  warm  interest 
in  the  work  and  workers,  often  encouraging  them  with  his 
presence  in  the  school  and  his  kind  and  cheery  greetings. 
He  was  suddenly  summoned  into  the  "  presence  of  the 
King"  in  the  "New  Jerusalem,"  September  ii,  1861,  leav- 
ing behind  him  a  bright  and  enduring  record,  not  only  in 
connection  with  the  church  and  school  which  he  so  fondly 
loved,  but  as  a  public  citizen  as  well.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  geniality  in  his  daily  life  and  one  "  whom  the  world 
did  not  willingly  let  die." 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Foote  succeeded  Mr.  Rich  as  superin- 
tendent. 

The  order  of  exercises  at  the  fifth  anniversary  of  the 
school  held  in  the  church  on  Sunday  afternoon,  January 
30,  1859,  was  as  follows  : 

Chant  by  the  school.  The  Lord's  Prayer.  Prayer. 
Report  of  the  superintendent,  Wm.  C.  Foote.  Singing, 
"Sabbath  Morning."  Address.  Singing,  "Joyful  Ti- 
dings." Address.  Singing,  "  Rest  for  the  Weary."  Prayer. 
Singing,  "  The  New  Jerusalem."     Benediction. 

The  superintendent  in  his  report  dates  the  anniversary 
of  this  school  from  the  time  it  entered  into  the  basement 
of  this  church  in  1854,  instead  of  the  date  of  its  organiza- 
tion, in  September,  1852. 

Extracts  from  Superintendent  Foote's  report.  May,  1862: 

"The  past  year  has  been  one  of  progress  in  many 
respects,  and  also  one  of  privilege.  It  surely  is  a  great 
privilege  to  have  the  treasure  of  God's  truth  so  richly  be- 
stowed upon  us.  We  have  had  the  opportunity  of  study- 
ing its  counsels  '  with  none  to  molest  or  make  us  afraid.' 
It  has  not  been  so  in  all  parts  of  our  land.  Large  sections, 
even  whole  States,  have  been  devastated  by  the  destruct- 
ive scourge  of  war.     Families  and  communities  have  been 

burning  the  lowest,  praying  that  its  oil  may  not  fail.     He  was  a  comfort 
and  a  blessing  to  the  churches  with  which  he  was  connected. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  233 

driven  out  from  their  homes  and  made  wanderers.  Deso- 
lation such  as  we  can  hardly  understand  has  swept  over 
them.  Even  the  sanctuaries  of  God  have  been  destroyed 
or  turned  to  other  uses  than  the  sacred  purposes  for  which 
they  were  designed. 

"  We  would  remember  here  especially  one  of  our  older 
scholars,  Charles  W.  Foster,  who  always  loved  to  be  with, 
us,  and  though  coming  up  to  manhood  did  not  forsake  the 
privileges  of  the  Sabbath-school.  He  gratefully  remem- 
bers them  still,  and  though  now  deprived  of  them  and .  in 
the  midst  of  temptations,  he  records  his  testimony  in  behalf 
of  the  blessed  truth  he  here  studied.  He  heard  his  coun- 
try's call  and  nobly  responded  to  its  summons,  and  is  now 
with  that  mighty  host,  we  trust  heaven  called  and  heaven 
defended,  which  shall  soon  restore  union  and  peace  to  our 
now  distracted  and  bleeding  country.  We  shall  gladly 
welcome  his  return  to  enjoy  with  us  the  blessings  of  an 
established  government."* 

The  secretary's  report  of  this  year  is  as  follows  : 
"  Whole  number  of  teachers  on  record,  28  ;  average  attend- 
ance of  scholars,  160;  average  attendance  of  teachers,  20-, 
whole  number  of  Scripture  verses  learned  as  reported, 
37,168  ;  largest  number  of  scholars  in  attendance,  198;  larg- 
est number  of  teachers  in  attendance,  28  ;  smallest  number 
of  scholars,  97  ;  smallest  number  of  teachers,  15." 

Jesse  H.  Tyler  served  as  secretary  of  this  school  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  also  took  the  place  of  both  the 
superintendent   and   his   assistant    during    the   temporary 

*  The  brave  boys  who  went  out  from  this  school  to  engage  in  the 
defence  of  our  country  in  the  time  of  its  peril  in  the  late  war  of  the  rebel- 
lion were  :  Victor  M.  Macfarlane  ;  Stephen  H.  Struthers,  the  assistant  sec- 
retary, who  returned  after  a  brief  absence ;  George  S.  Rockwell,  son  of 
Samuel  D.  Rockwell,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  Mur- 
freesborough,  Tenn.,  in  1863;  Edward  Tyler,  son  of  Jesse  H.  Tyler,  and 
George  Cable,  also  killed  in  that  war,  as  well  as  Charles  W.  Foster,  whose 
remains  were  brought  home  and  interred  in  the  family  plot  in  St.  John's 
Cemetery.  This  school  honors  the  memory  of  these  young  patriots,  these 
departed  heroes.  The  service  they  once  rendered  can  never  be  forgotten. 
Indebtedness  such  as  is  owed  them  can  never  be  cancelled.  The  sacrifice 
of  their  lives  for  the  nation's  honor  and  the  preservation  of  the  Union  can 
never  be  overrated,  for  the  work  they  accomplished  was  for  coming  gener- 
ations. 


234  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

absence  of  those  officials.  All  of  these  offices  he  filled  with 
great  acceptance.  He  was  greatly  beloved  for  his  "  St. 
John-like  spirit,"  which  endeared  him  to  all  warm-hearted 
Christians.  His  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  mention  of 
the  officers  and  their  work  in  connection  with  this  church 
said,  "  It  was  my  pleasant  privilege  to  know  him  when  a 
student  for  the  ministry.  By  his  lamentable  death  the 
church  lost  an  amiable,  judicious,  and  faithful  officer,  whose 
name  it  loves  to  honor  among  the  worthies  of  its  commu- 
nion." 

Mr.  Tyler  was  suddenly  summoned  from  his  earthly 
work  on  March  lo,  1863,  to  enter  upon  some  higher  service 
and  grander  work  in  the  "  city  which  is  above."  "  And 
there  shall  be  no  more  curse :  but  the  throne  of  God  and  of 
the  Lamb  shall  be  in  it;  and  his  servants  shall  serve 
him."     Rev.  22  :  3. 

The  secretary's  report  for  May,  1864,  showed:  whole 
number  of  scholars  on  record,  209 ;  whole  number  of  teach- 
ers, 32  ;  average  attendance  of  scholars,  187  ;  average  attend- 
ance of  teachers,  28  ;  whole  number  of  verses  learned,  54,- 
307 ;  largest  number  of  scholars  in  attendance,  196;  largest 
number  of  teachers  in  attendance,  30 ;  smallest  number  of 
scholars,  109;  smallest  number  of  teachers,  15. 

The  officers  of  this  school  in  May,  1864,  were :  Wm.  C. 
Foote,  Superintendent ;  Edgar  Strang,  Secretary  ;  Stephen 
R.  Struthers,  Assistant  Secretary;  Lemuel  Wells,  Libra- 
rian; Stephen  H.  Thayer,  Jr.,  and  Julius  T.  Rockwell, 
Assistant  Librarians. 

The  tenth  anniversary  of  the  school  was  held  in  the 
church  on  Sunday  afternoon.  May  14,  1864,  at  three  o'clock. 

The  order  of  exercises  was  as  follows  :  Singing,  "  The 
Children's  Army  Song."  Prayer  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  D.  M. 
Seward,  D.  D.  Reports  of  the  superintendent  and  secre- 
tary. Singing,  "  Open  Wide  the  Golden  Gate."  Address 
by  Ralph  Wells,  Esq.  Singing,  "  Beautiful  Zion."  Address 
by  the  pastor.     Singing,  "  The  True  Succession." 

During  Mr.  Foote's  superintendency  special  attention 
was  given  by  the  teachers  to  the  memorizing  of  Scripture 
texts.  They  were  aided  in  this  essential  part  of  Sunday- 
school  instruction  by  the  earnest  and  hearty  cooperation  of 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  235 

not  only  the  superintendent,  but  the  parents  of  the  chil- 
dren as  well,  and  it  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  committal 
of  the  Bible  was  not  made  with  the  expectation  of  reward. 

The  school  contributed  $200  annually  towards  the  sup. 
port  of  a  missionary  in  the  home  field. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the  school  rec- 
ord book : 

"  In  iVpril,  1864,  the  children  contributed  towards  pur- 
chasing a  new  piano. 

"Sunday,  May  15,  1864,  Mr.  Foote  introduced  the  new 
superintendent,  Stephen  H.  Thayer. 

"May  22,  1864.  Rev.  Mr.  Rand,  in  behalf  of  the 
school,  offered  pleasant  resolutions  expressing  their  regrets 
at  the  loss  of  their  old  superintendent,  W.  C.  Foote,  thank- 
ing him  for  his  valuable  services.  They  were  unanimously 
adopted,  and  on  motion  it  was  resolved  that  the  proceed- 
ings should  be  recorded  at  length.  Rev.  Dr.  Seward  also 
expressed  his  great  regret  at  the  loss  of  the  superintends 
ent  and  bore  testimony  to  his  efficient  and  faithful  services 
in  the  school. 

"  After  Mr.  Foote's  resignation  he  continued  to  teach 
in  the  school  for  several  years." 

Rev.  W.  W.  Rand  was  the  leader  of  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music  in  this  school  for  several  years. 

Miss  Margaret  Morrison  (now  Mrs.  Albert  Putnam) 
had  charge  of  the  Primary  Department,  numbering  sixty 
pupils,  which  met  in  a  very  pleasant  room  adjoining  the 
Sunday-school  in  the  basement  of  the  church.  The  rec- 
ollections of  the  pupils  of  this  class,  now  grown  to  woman- 
hood and  manhood,  of  the  time  spent  with  their  teacher, 
and  her  interesting  talks  to  them,  are  delightful. 

The  secretary's  book  contains  this  entry  under  date  of 
Sunday,  May  22,  1864:  "The  new  superintendent,  Mr. 
Thayer,  entered  upon  his  duties  and  made  his  inaugural 
speech." 

During  Mr.  Thayer's  superintendency  special  atten- 
tion was  given  and  preparation  made  to  have  the  monthly 
concerts  held  by  the  school  pleasant  and  profitable.  To 
this  end  interesting  speakers  were  secured. 

Not  a  little  of  the  success  and  prosperity  of  the  school 


236  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

at  that  time  were  due  to  the  energy  and  efficiency  of  the 
superintendent's  family.  His  wife  had  charge  of  the  infant 
class,  which  numbered  sixty  pupils,  his  daughter  and  his 
son  Horace  were  teachers,  and  his  son  Stephen  H.  Thayer, 
Jr.  (now  Judge  Thayer),  was  the  librarian,  and  subse- 
quently became  the  secretary  and  treasurer  for  several 
years.  His  son-in-law.  Rev.  H.  Kingsbury,  was  the  leader 
of  the  singing. 

While  Mr.  Kingsbury  was  connected  with  the  school 
he  compiled,  assisted  by  A.  A.  Graley,  M.  D.,  the  Sunday- 
school  music  book  entitled  "  Happy  Voices,"  which  was 
published  by  the  American  Tract  Society  and  was  very 
popular,  having  a  large  circulation.  Many  of  the  tunes 
and  some  of  the  hymns  were  composed  by  him.  This 
singing  book  was  introduced  into  the  school  in  March, 
1865. 

It  was  also  during  Mr.  Kingsbury's  connection  with 
the  school  that  he  prepared  for  the  ministry, 

The  school  under  this  superintendent  continued  to 
retain  its  larger  scholars.  Among  the  teachers  who  had 
classes  numbering  from  twelve  to  fifteen  pupils  were  Mrs. 
Hanks,  Mrs.  Jesse  Tyler,  Miss  Clara  L.  Okell,  Miss  C.  M. 
Strang,  Miss  L.  E.  Seward  (now  the  wife  of  Rev.  W.  H. 
Gleason,  D.  D.),  Richard  Wynkoop,  Wm.  C.  Foote,  E.  B. 
Schoonmaker,  and  Charles  Lockwood,  the  latter  having 
taught  classes  of  boys  and  girls.  The  members  of  his  last 
class  of  1 87 1  were  Miss  Josephine  Sawyer,  Miss  Eldora 
Davis  (now  Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Radford),  Miss  Isabella  M. 
Shipman  (now  Mrs.  John  S.  Karr),  Miss  Lucy  Earl,  Miss 
Sarah  Clark,  Miss  Fannie  W.  Shipman  (now  Mrs.  Samuel 
M.  Wilson),  Miss  Mary  E.  Morris  (now  Mrs.  John  J.  Litte- 
brandt).  Miss  Mary  E.  Littebrandt  (now  Mrs.  A.  D.  Dor- 
ward),  Miss  Carlese  Simpson  (now  Mrs.  William  R.  Mott), 
Miss  Ella  Coles,  and  Miss  Rachel  Archer  (now  Mrs.  John 
F.  Thompson),  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  became 
communicants  of  the  church  under  his  instruction. 

This  class  met  in  the  square  pew  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  church,  there  being  no  room  for  them  in  the 
Sunday-school  room.  Between  this  teacher  and  his  class 
there   existed  a  real  affection,  for  he   manifested   almost 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  237 

a  parental  anxiety  for  their  proficiency  and  welfare,  and 
his  faithful  and  practical  instructions  are  recalled  with  ap- 
preciation. Said  one  of  his  pupils :  "  I  remember  Mr. 
Lockwood's  teaching  in  this  one  particular.  After  we  be- 
came members  of  the  church  he  constantly  talked  to  us  of 
the  responsibilities  we  had  assumed  and  what  was  required 
of  us.  He  used  to  give  and  loan  us  books  which  were  help- 
ful to  us  in  our  Christian  life.  His  ideas  of  questionable 
amusements  were  clear  and  decided,  and  he  endeavored  to 
teach  us  that  there  was  no  room  for  the  church  and  the 
world  to  travel  side  by  side.  Some  of  us  used  sometimes 
to  think  him  almost  too  strict  on  this  point,  but  now  that  I 
have  myself  a  family  of  boys  and  girls  to  train  I  fully  real- 
ize the  value  of  his  instructions." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  secretary's  record 
book: 

"  May,  1 866. — The  Scripture  lesson  was  omitted  to-day 
and  the  time  was  occupied  by  prayer  for  God's  blessing  on 
the  school,  and  in  earnest  and  pointed  appeals  to  the  chil- 
dren, urging  immediate  attention  to  their  eternal  interests. 
Remarks  were  made  by  jMessrs.  C  Lockwood,  William  C. 
Foote,  Mr.  Littlebrant,  Rev.  Dr.  Rand,  and  Dr.  Seward. 
Fervent  prayers  were  offered  by  them. 

"  May  1866. — Communion  Sunday.  Miss  C.  L.  Okell,  a 
teacher,  Margaret  and  Jennie  Burns  and  E.  P.  Baird  united 
with  the  church  from  the  Sunday-school." 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1866  was  held  on  Friday 
evening  at  7  :  30  oclock  in  the  Sunday-school  room.  The 
exercises  were  opened  by  prayer  by  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Dr.  Seward,  which  was  followed  by  a  song  written  by  one 
of  the  teachers  and  arranged  to  the  air  of  "  Tramp,  tramp, 
tramp,"  by  Mr.  H.  Kingsbury.  Addresses  were  made  by 
William  A.  Gibson,  Dr.  Seward,  and  by  the  superintendent, 
who  delivered  a  rhyming  address  which  greatly  delighted 
the  children. 

The  Christmas  Carol  "  With  Joy  the  Angels  Sing," 
followed.  Then  the  infant  class,  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  S.  H.  Thayer,  recited  in  correct  concert  the  121st 
Psalm.  The  religious  exercises  closed  with  an  original 
song  written  for  the  occasion  by  the  Superintendent,  Ste- 


238  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

phen  H.  Thayer,  the  air  of  which  was  sent  from  Rome, 
Italy,  by  the  composer,  Mr.  H.  Kingsbury,  who  wrote  it  for 
this  festival,  and  which  was,  by  request,  repeated  at  a  sub- 
sequent Christmas  festival. 

The  exercises  were  more  than  usually  pleasant.  The 
musical  part  was  conducted  by  the  new  organist,  Mr. 
Brown,  who  led  the  singing,  and  Miss  Helen  Foote,  who 
presided  at  the  piano.  The  distribution  of  gifts  by  the 
dear  good  saint,  Santa  Claus,  ended  the  festivities  of  the 
joyous  and  memorial  festival. 

October  4,  1868.  Rev.  Dr.  Rand  read  an  interesting 
and  appreciative  letter  from  a  Sunday-school  in  Virginia, 
acknowledging  the  gift  of  a  library  from  class  No.  15. 

This  class  was  taught  by  E.  Y.  Bell,  and  the  boys  that 
contributed  this  gift  were :  George  E.  Upham,  William  C. 
Thayer,  Frederick  Shears,  Chauncey  Gouch,  Bradford  Otis, 
G.  B.  Calem,  I.  Harriott,  Edward  Hill,  Frank  Simpson,  and 
Charles  Tyler. 

Rev.  Dr.  Seward  manifested  a  very  deep  interest  in 
the  work  of  the  Sunday-school,  rarely  failing  to  be  present 
at  its  sessions  either  at  the  opening  or  closing  exercises. 
He  was  also  always  present,  if  not  unavoidably  detained, 
at  the  monthly  concert,  taking  part  in  the  exercises.  He 
was  the  faithful  loving  shepherd  of  the  children  of  this 
fold  for  eighteen  years,  resigning  his  charge  June  20, 
1870. 

Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  in  his  historical  dis- 
course of  this  church  makes  mention  of  Dr.  Seward's  min- 
isterial labors  in  connection  with  the  church  as  follows : 

"  In  thus  noting  the  brief  statistics  which  I  have  been 
enabled  to  gather  from  the  records  of  Dr.  Seward's  minis- 
try, I  am  deeply  sensible  of  the  fact  that  they  exhibit  very 
imperfectly,  as  all  such  statistics  must,  the  fidelity  of  a 
Christian  pastor  and  the  subtle  influences  which  secure 
him  a  deep  place  in  the  affections  of  his  people.  I  knew 
Dr.  Seward  for  years  as  his  co-presbyter,  and  readily 
learned  to  respect  him  for  his  personal  worth  and  his  min- 
isterial ability  and  devotion.  But  to  you,  amidst  whom  he 
labored  so  long  as  a  teacher,  a  helper  in  trial,  a  sympa- 
thizing and  tender  friend  in  seasons  of  afflictions,  a  par- 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  239 

taker  in  your  joys,  a  supporter  of  the  aged  and  weary,  a 
kind  and  gentle  guide  of  the  young— to  you  his  best  testi- 
mony is  written  on  your  hearts,  or  laid  away  with  those 
sacred  feelings  and  associations  of  the  past  with  which  a 
a  stranger  cannot  intermeddle.  I  have  no  fear  that  his 
work  will  be  forgotten.  And  yet  that  work  can  never  fully 
be  known  until  its  ripe  and  perfect  fruit  is  displayed  in  the 
church  triumphant  above." 

J.  Fowler  Travis  succeeded  Mr.  Thayer  as  superin- 
tendent in  1868,  and  was  followed  in  turn  by  William  A. 
Gibson,  John  W.  Skinner,  and  E.  Y.  Bell.  The  latter 
writes,  under  date  of  October  3,  1887,  concerning  the  school 
under  his  superintendency  and  that  of  William  A.  Gibson  : 

"  I  wish  I  could  give  you  the  required  information  of 
the  time  I  served  as  superintendent,  treasurer,  and  secre- 
tary of  the  school.  William  A.  Gibson  was  my  immediate 
predecessor  as  superintendent.  I  distinctly  remember  that 
during  my  administration  the  school  was  in  a  most  flour- 
ishing condition,  that  during  the  years  Mr.  Gibson  and 
myself  were  at  the  head,  our  missionary  contributions  were 
large  and  no  doubt  the  largest  of  any  school  of  that  time 
in  Yonkers.  The  number  of  teachers  in  active  service 
each  Sunday  under  my  term  of  superintendency,  was  up- 
wards of  thirty,  and  I  remember  how  often  the  teachers 
met  together  in  social  and  Christian  intercourse  at  my 
home.  These  social  meetings  contributed  largely  to  the 
school's  unity  of  work  and  the  building  up  of  the  church. 
During  Mr.  Gibson's  and  my  terms  of  office,  the  member- 
ship of  the  church  received  an  increased  accession  from 
the  Sunday-school. 

"  Looking  back  from  over  twelve  to  fifteen  years,  I  can- 
not recall  all  the  beloved  teachers  and  assistants  who  gen- 
erously helped  me  in  the  blessed  work,  yet  I  remember 
their  manly  and  womanly  devotion  to  the  cause.  My  dear 
old  and  valued  friend  Mott,  w^ho  faithfully  labored  with 
me,  I  have  very  pleasant  recollections  of. 

"  My  connection  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Sunday- 
school  dates  back  to  my  fifteenth  year  and  ended  when  I 
left  Yonkers  in  1874. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  engaged  in  the  work  you  outline.    I 


240  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

have  delightful  recollections  of  my  early  and  later  connec- 
tion with  the  Sunday-school  interests  of  Yonkers. 

"  I  am  yours  very  truly,  E.  Y.  Bell." 

G.  Livingstone  Morse  was  elected  superintendent  of 
the  school  April,  1874,  and  served  two  years.  After  his 
resignation  he  served  as  assistant-superintendent  to  the 
pastor,  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  and  also  had  charge 
of  the  infant  class  for  several  months.  The  building  fund 
towards  the  erection  of  the  new  chapel  was  started  at  his 
suggestion,  the  Sunday-school  contributing  $10  as  a  nest- 
egg  for  this  new  enterprise.  Mr.  Morse  also  suggested  the 
dividing  of  the  Christmas  exercises  into  two  gatherings — 
the  religious  exercises  to  be  held  on  Sunday  of  Christmas 
week,  and  the  presents  to  be  given  upon  a  week  day  pre- 
ceding the  Sabbath,  or  immediately  following  Christmas 
day.  This  pleasant  custom  has  been  retained  as  a  distinct 
feature  of  the  school  to  this  time. 

A  very  pleasant  Christmas  festival  was  held  on  Sun- 
day afternoon  in  1875  in  the  church,  when  the  above  men- 
tioned order  of  exercises  was  first  observed.  After  the 
singing  of  Christmas  carols  and  Scripture  recitations,  A.  D. 
F.  Randolph,  after  a  few  introductory  remarks  appropriate 
to  the  occasion,  closed  his  pleasant  talk  with  a  poem  writ- 
ten for  that  festival  entitled,  "  The  Night  Swept  Cool  o'er 
Bethlehem's  Plain." 

The  secretary's  report  for  June,  1875,  shows:  Number 
of  officers,  4 ;  number  of  teachers,  26 ;  number  of  pupils, 
108  ;  number  of  pupils  in  infant  class,  30  ;  total,  168. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  the  Sunday- 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  February,  1876:  Officers,  5; 
teachers,  29;  scholars  on  register,  160;  average  attendance, 
131;  largest  attendance,  200 ;  number  in  infant  class,  30 ; 
conversions,  7;  volumes  in  library,  450;  receipts,  $464  15  ; 
expenditure  for  general  expenses  of  school  and  Christmas 
festival,  $365  02 ;  donations  for  missionary  purposes, 
$262  50. 

The  officers  of  this  school  are :  G.  Livingstone  Morse, 
Superintendent;  W.  W.  Law,  Assistant-Superintendent; 
W.  R.  Mott,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  J.  E.  Andrus,  Li- 
brarian ;  J.  Edd}^  Musical  Director. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  24I 

The  teachers  are:  Miss  Kate  Willard,  Miss  Jennie 
Skinner,  Miss  Anna  Shipman,  Miss  Marietta  Flagg,  Miss 
Julia  F.  Randolph,  Miss  Annie  McCullough,  Miss  Annie 
Kellogg,  Miss  C.  M.  Strang,  Miss  M.  J.  Miller,  Miss  Hattie 
Smith,  Miss  Kate  Nichols,  Miss  Lucy  Olmsted,  Miss  E. 
F.  Randolph,  Miss  Ada  M.  Daughaday,  Miss  Isabel  Ship- 
man,  Miss  Emily  Rice,  Miss  Bain,  Mrs.  T.  R.  Smith,  Mrs. 
F.  P.  Brown,  Messrs.  W.  B.  Strang,  J.  W.  Rockwell,  J.  W. 
Skinner,  S.  P.  Holmes,  W.  C.  Foote,  H.  H.  Thayer,  Allen 
Taylor,  William  Worden,  Salter  S.  Clark,  Augustus  Cruik- 
shank,  E.  Y.  Bell,  Dr.  G.  Balch,  and  Mrs.  G.  Balch. 

The  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D., 
assumed  the  charge  of  the  school  as  its  superintendent, 
April  30,  1876,  and  served  until  March  30,  1879.  During 
his  superintendency  there  were  several  large  accessions 
from  the  Sunday-school  to  the  communion  of  the  church. 

The  following  entries  are  taken  from  the  school  record 
book : 

February  1878. — Report  of  the  secretary  of  the  school 
to  the  county  secretary :  Whole  number  of  officers  and 
teachers,  29  ;  whole  number  of  pupils,  199  ;  infant  class,  20  ; 
amount  contributed,  $220. 

March  30,  1879. — R^v.  Dr.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  superin- 
tendent and  pastor,  took  leave  of  the  school  in  a  farewell 
address,  having  accepted  a  call  to  the  Westminster  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  There  was  a  unanimous 
expression  of  regret  on  the  part  of  the  teachers  and 
scholars  at  his  departure. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  John  W. 
Skinner  on  behalf  of  the  school,  as  expressive  of  their 
great  regret  at  his  departure  and  of  their  appreciation  of 
his  services  while  with  them  : 

Resolved,  That  the  teachers  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Sunday-school  learn  with  great  regret  of  the  departure  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  on  this  the  last  Sabbath  on  which  they 
are  to  enjoy  his  services  as  superintendent.  They  desire 
but  cannot  fully  express  the  sense  of  the  great  loss  they 
suffer  by  his  removal.  They  know  that  in  performing  the 
office  of  both  pastor  and  superintendent  he  assumed  in  the 
latter  a  great  additional  burden.     They  cannot  take  leave 

Sund8y>scbool  Work.  I  5 


242  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

of  the  superintendent  who  has  so  faithfully  performed  his 
duties  at  great  personal  sacrifice,  without  expressing  the 
obligation  they  are  under  for  the  oversight  and  care  he 
has  given  to  all  the  departments  of  the  school,  and  for  the 
interest  he  has  inspired  in  the  study  of  the  word  of  God 
and  in  the  spiritual  application  of  its  truths.  The  teachers 
also  wish  to  assure  him  of  their  love  and  attachment,  and 
that  their  prayers  shall  attend  him  in  his  new  field  of 
labor. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  historical  discourse  delivered 
Sunday  morning  July  2,  1876,  makes  mention  of  the  Sun- 
day-school as  follows : 

"  And  our  Sabbath-school  work,  though  limited  in  its 
scope,  has  been  invested  with  a  very  high  degree  of  inter- 
est. I  think  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  devoted 
and  capable  band  of  teachers.  Nor  do  I  believe  that  you 
could  anywhere  discover  a  more  attractive  assemblage  of 
children  and  young  people.  I  desire  here  to  give  ample 
recognition  to  the  valuable  services  of  those  who  have  held 
the  oifice  of  superintendent,  secretary,  and  librarian,  and  of 
all  who  have  here  given  themselves  to  the  task  of  Christian 
instruction.  Their  labors,  past  and  present,  are  bearing 
rich  fruit.  And  this  portion  of  our  work  demands  and 
deserves  more  abundant  support.  I  must  here  express 
my  great  regret  that  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  thus 
far  the  complete  records  of  the  school  prevents  me  from 
naming  those  by  whose  labors  it  has  successively  been  sus- 
tained." 

April  6.— Prof.  Baird,  vice-superintendent,  absent  from 
illness.  Wm.  R.  Mott,  secretary,  absent  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  mother.  J.  W.  Skinner,  acting  superintendent. 
Mr.  Ketcham  as  secretary. 

April  13. — Prof.  Baird  acting  superintendent.  Election 
for  superintendent.     Edward  W.  Dwight  elected. 

Pastor's  report  to  the  Westchester  Presbytery  for  1 880  : 
Officers  and  teachers,  29 ;  adult  scholars,  36 ;  youth  and 
children,  no;  total  membership,  175;  average  attendance, 
118;  number  united  with  the  church,  9. 

January,  1880. — A  communication  received  from  Miss 
A.    E.    Kirkwood,  the  County  Secretary  of   Sunday-school 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  243 

Work  and  Temperance  Literature,  referred  to  the  superin- 
tendent, Edward  W.  Dwight. 

February  29. — The  committee  on  temperance  lessons 
recommend  that  the  temperance  lesson  be  adopted,  and  to 
be  selected  by  the  school.  Vote  taken.  Adopted.  The 
committee  also  recommend  that  the  lesson  be  taught  four 
times  a  year,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter.     Adopted. 

The  new  chapel  being  completed,  the  school  entered  it 
on  Sunday,  October  14,  1880.  The  following  were  the  offi- 
cers of  the  school  at  that  date  :  Horace  H.  Thayer,  Superin- 
tendent ;  Howard  R.  Butler,  Assistant  Superintendent ; 
William  R.  Mott,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  Charles  H. 
Butler,  Librarian. 

April  1 88 1. — The  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Reid,  began  a  course 
of  sermons  to  children,  which  were  delivered  monthly  at  the 
morning  service  in  the  church.  The  members  of  the  Sun- 
day-school and  the  children  of  the  church  occupied  the  body 
of  the  church  on  those  instructive  and  interesting  occasions. 

April  17,  1 88 1. — Teachers'  meeting  held  after  session. 
Mr.  Charles  Collins  unanimously  chosen  Superintendent. 
Mr.  Jasper  Van  Vleck  elected  Assistant  Superintendent ; 
Wm.  R.  Mott,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  Walter  Graves,  Li- 
brarian ;  J.  Van  Vleck  and  Carey  T.  Seaman,  assistants. 

May  I. — Mr.  Charles  Collins  took  charge  of  the  school 
as  superintendent.  Number  of  officers  present,  4 ;  number 
of  teachers,  20  ;  number  of  pupils,  142  ;  number  of  pupils  in 
the  infant  class,  20. 

Mr.  Collins  writes  as  follows : 

"  YoNKERS,  September  23,  1887. 

"  My  Dear  Miss  Kirkwood  :  In  reply  to  your  ques- 
tions in  reference  to  my  connection  with  the  Sunday-school 
I  would  say,  I  was  chosen  superintendent  in  the  spring  of 
1 88 1,  and  resigned  in  the  fall  of  1883. 

"  Soon  after  I  became  superintendent  Mrs.  F.  P.  Brown 
was  made  lady  superintendent  of  the  school  and  Mr.  Jessup 
assistant  superintendent. 

"  For  the  new  life  and  interest  which  came  into  the 
school  at  that  time  we  were  largely  indebted  to  the  large 
and  admirably  arranged  rooms  for  the  Sunday-school  and 


244  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

infant  class  provided  in  the  chapel  recently  erected.  And 
for  this  addition  to  our  church  building,  with  its  convenient 
Sunday-school  appointments,  we  are  indebted  to  the  liber- 
ality, good  judgment,  and  persuasive  talent  of  William 
Allen  Butler,  Jr. 

"  Our  people  always  entered  heartily  into  our  Christ- 
mas services  and  festivals,  and  were  most  liberal  contributors 
on  these  occasions.  During  my  term  many  things  were 
done  by  the  people  to  make  the  Sunday-school  work  pleas- 
ant and  profitable. 

"  I  have  given  you  a  few  facts  and  figures,  thinking 
they  may  aid  you  in  looking  for  more  important  matter. 
"  Respectfully  yours, 

"CHARLES  COLLINS." 

The  Christmas  exercises  of  1882  were  held  in  the 
church  on  Sunday  afternoon,  December  25.  Interesting 
addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  John  Reid  and  the  super- 
intendent, Charles  Collins. 

The  following  is  a  brief  report  of  the  superintendent's 
address  on  that  occasion. 

After  appropriate  and  interesting  remarks  concerning 
the  origin  and  history  of  Christmas  day  he  spoke  of  the 
manner  of  its  observance  in  diiTerent  countries.     He  said : 

"  In  later  generations  the  Germans  led  off  with  the 
grotesque  and  noisy  manner  of  spending  the  day.  The 
English  gave  to  it  more  of  a  domestic  religious  merry- 
making festival. 

"  *  'T  was  Christmas  broached  the  mightiest  ale, 
'T  was  Christmas  told  the  merriest  tale, 
A  Christmas  gambol  oft  would  cheer 
A  poor  man's  heart  through  half  the  year.'" 

Mr.  Collins  closed  his  address  by  a  few  remarks  on  the 
origin  and  history  of  Sunday-schools.     He  said  : 

"  I  have  recently  received  an  interesting  letter  from 
one  who  signs  himself  'your  missionary,  Mr.  John  Cassell,' 
and  to  whose  support  this  Sunday-school  has  been  contribu- 
ting for  over  twenty  years.  Mr.  Cassell  is  doing  Sunday- 
school  work  down  in  the  Indian  Territory  among  the  In- 
dians and  poor  whites." 

Incident  to  Mr.  Collins'  superintendency  was  his  prep- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  245 

aration  and  publication  for  the  school  of  the  little  book 
entitled  "  Precept  and  Praise,"  which  was  published  by 
A.  S.  Barnes  &  Co.,  New  York,  in  1881.  This  little  vol- 
ume contains  the  psalter,  the  litany,  the  beatitudes,  the 
commandments,  and  questions  from  the  "  Shorter  Cate- 
chism," "  that  matchless  compendium  of  Biblical  theolog}?- 
of  the  Westminster  divines,"  and  other  useful  and  import- 
ant matter,  helpful  not  only  to  scholars  but  to  teachers  and 
superintendents  as  well. 

He  also  gave  special  attention  to  the  singing  and  to  the 
primary  department  of  the  school.  John  Bright  and  his 
son,  the  cornetists,  had  charge  of  the  singing.  Mr.  Collins 
generously  contributed  $600  towards  the  expenses  of  the 
Sunday-school,  which  was  not  all  the  expense  incurred  by 
the  school  during  his  superintendency.  For  the  primary  de- 
partment were  provided  the  helps  necessary  for  the  success- 
ful carrying  forward  of  this  important  branch  of  Sunday- 
school  work. 

This  department  at  that  time  was  superintended  by 
Miss  Armenia  P.  Baird,  who  had  charge  of  it  for  more  than 
three  years.  Her  devotion  to  her  little  charge  was  earnest 
and  untiring.  While  "  busy  here  and  there "  about  her 
work,  the  Master  came  one  day  and  laid  His  hand  on  her, 
bidding  her  to  service  in  the  upper  sanctuary.  In  loving 
remembrance  of  her  and  her  work,  the  teachers  of  the 
Sunday-school  placed  in  the  primary  class  room  a  beautiful 
memorial  window  of  cathedral  glass,  the  design  of  which  is 
a  cross,  and  around  it  is  a- vine  gracefully  entwined.  At 
the  base  of  it  is  a  scroll  bearing  this  inscription  :  "  Armenia 
Palmer  Baird.  Obit.  May  23,  1884.  Feed  my  Lambs."  But 
those  who  knew  her  need  no  such  memorial  to  perpetuate 
her  name,  which  is  held  in  affectionate  remembrance. 
The  remark  is  still  frequently  heard,  "  She  loved  the  chil- 
dren and  they  loved  her."  In  one  of  the  "  Last  Poems  "  by 
H.  H.  are  a  few  words  which  beautifully  express  tliese 
thoughts  : 

"And  when,  remembering  me,  you  come  someday 
And  stand  there,  speak  no  praise,  but  only  say, 
'  How  she  loved  us !     It  was  for  that  she  was  so  dear.' 
These  are  the  only  words  that  I  shall  smile  to  hear  : 
'  How  she  loved  us  I'  " 


246  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  subjoined  letter  gives  a  brief  resume  of  the  work 
accomplished  by  Mr.  Cassell,  to  whom  Mr.  Collins  referred, 
also  of  the  other  missionaries  during  the  time  they  were 
supported  by  the  school : 

"  New  York,  May  31,  1888. 

"  Miss  A.  E.  Kirkwood. 

"  Dear  Friend  :  Replying  to  your  note  of  28th  inst.,  I 
am  pleased  to  report  the  former  good  deeds  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Sunday-school,  Yonkers.  In  1861  about  one- 
third  of  the  salary  of  one  of  our  missionaries  was  assumed 
and  paid  up  to  1885  as  follows  : 

"  First  seven  years,  F.  F.  Wheeler,  Nebraska,  1 5 1  new 
schools,  688  teachers  and  4,375  scholars.  First  two  years. 
Rev.  E.  W.  Rice,  Wisconsin,  'j'j  new  schools,  540  teachers 
and  4,174  scholars.  First  two  years.  Rev.  N.  P.  Paxson, 
Missouri,  71  new  schools,  451  teachers  and  3,061  scholars. 
First  thirteen  years.  Rev.  John  Cassell,  Kansas,  518  new 
schools,  1,548  teachers  and  17,807  scholars.  Totals — 24 
years,  817  new  schools  and  29,417  scholars. 

"  Total  miles  travelled,  1 15,486  ;  addresses  given,  3,195  ; 
Bibles  and  Testaments  distributed,  5,073  ;  families  visited, 
8,695.  Aid  was  given  to  schools  having  a  membership  of 
over  102,000,  to  whom  the  missionary  has  given  an  earnest 
invitation  to  drink  of  the  water  of  life  freely.  The  num- 
ber of  souls  savingly  interested  is  known  only  to  the  dear 
Lord  who  saved  them.  Neither  can  we  give  the  number 
of  churches  grown  out  of  this  work.  It  certainly  is  among 
the  hundreds.  These  missionaries  have  made  grants  of 
religious  literature  to  the  value  of  nearly  $5,000. 

"  The  above  text  with  statistics  will  furnish  material 
for  quite  a  respectable  sermon.  Shall  be  glad  to  furnish 
anything  further  if  desired. 

"  Cordially  yours, 

"L.  MILTON  MARSH,  District  Secretary." 

RECORD   BOOK. 

"  April  8,  1883. — The  superintendent  absent,  Mr.  Jessup 
acting  as  superintendent.  Election  of  officers  after  Sunday- 
school.  Charles  Collins  unanimously  reelected  as  Superin- 
tendent ;  C.  N.  Jessup,  Vice-Superintendent ;  Mrs.  F.  P, 
Brown,  Lady  Superintendent ;  W.  R.  Mott,  Secretary  and 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  247 

Treasurer ;  Wells  Olmsted  and  George  Flag-g-,  Librarians ; 
and  Walter  Graves,  Committee  on  Audit. 

"  September  2. — The  school  resumed  its  sessions  after 
vacation.  Mr.  Charles  Collins,  owing  to  advice  of  his  phy- 
sician, offered  his  resignation,  to  take  effect  immediately. 
Mr.  Jessup  also  offered  his  resignation,  to  take  effect  Octo- 
ber  I. 

"Report  of  school  for  September,  1883:  Officers,  6; 
teachers,  20;  pupils,  162  ;  pupils  in  infant  class,  55. 

"  September  9. — Mr.  Theodore  Oilman,  Superintendent 
pro  tem. 

"September  23.  —  Meeting  of  teachers  after  session. 
The  committee  report  in  favor  of  Mr.  Walter  Graves  as  Su- 
perintendent. On  motion  Mr.  Graves  was  unanimously 
elected. 

"  October  7. — Mr.  Walter  Graves  took  charge  of  the 
school." 

During  Mr.  Graves'  superintendency  of  the  school 
there  was  a  large  accession  to  the  membership  of  the  church 
from  the  Sunday-school. 

November  1 1 . — The  committee  on  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent reported  to  the  church  session  in  favor  of  nomin- 
ating W.  W.  Ellsworth.  This  is  the  first  record  of  a  school 
officer  being  nominated  on  recommendation  of  the  church 
session,  in  the  history  of  this  school. 

The  pastor's  report  to  the  Westchester  Presbytery  of 
1885  shows:  Officers,  5;  teachers,  26  ;  scholars,  256  ;  total, 
officers,  teachers,  and  scholars,  287 ;  average  attendance, 
172  ;  received  into  the  church  from  school,  3.  Are  teachers' 
meetings  held?  Yes.  Amount  given  to  our  Board,  $181  ; 
amount  given  to  other  benevolent  objects,  $125.  Westmin- 
ster Lesson  Helps  are  used.     560  books  in  the  library. 

May  9,  1885. — Teachers'  meeting  held  after  church  ser- 
vices. Mr,  Theodore  Oilman,  chairman.  W.  W.  Ellsworth 
elected  Superintendent ;  William  Ketcham,  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent ;  Mrs.  F.  P.  Brown,  Lady  Superintendent ; 
William  R.  Mott,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  Wells  Olmsted, 
Librarian  ;  George  Flagg  and  S.  Hawley,  Assistant  Libra- 
rians. 

Sunday-school  statistics  when  W.  W.  Ellsworth  entered 


248  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

upon  his  duties:  Officers  present,  4;  teachers  present,  16; 
pupils  in  primary  department,  54 ;  total  number  of  pupils, 
172, 

From  the  pastor's  report  to  the  Westchester  Presbytery 
for  1886  we  learn:  Number  of  officers,  6;  teachers,  27; 
scholars,  250 ;  total,  283  ;  average  attendance,  172  ;  attendance 
of  scholars  at  church,  200 ;  received  into  church  from 
school,  2 ;  books  in  library,  600  ;  Westminster  Catechism 
taught.     Amount  given  to  benevolent  objects,  $225. 

Pastor's  report  to  the  Presbytery  1887  :  Number  of 
scholars,  288  ;  average  attendance,  162  ;  amount  contribu- 
ted, $212  18;  number  of  scholars  received  into  the  church 
from  the  Sunday-school,  7. 

The  branch  of  the  Ministering  Children's  League  con- 
nected with  this  school  was  organized  by  Mrs,  Fayette  P. 
Brown,  March  9,  1886,  with  the  following  officers:  Mrs.  F. 
P.  Brown,  President ;  Miss  Getler,  Vice-President ;  Master 
Victor  M.  Elting,  Secretary ;  Master  Carl  Collins,  Treasu- 
rer ,  Miss  M.  Flagg,  Miss  Law,  Miss  K.  Atkins,  Miss  Edna 
Morse,  Master  Ernest  Bogart,  and  Master  Henry  Baird, 
Board  of  Managers. 

From  the  first  annual  report,  presented  by  Miss  Susie 
Leeds  Heermance,  are  taken  the  following  extracts : 

"  Meetings  of  the  League  were  held  during  the  first 
year  usually  on  Saturday  afternoon  of  each  week.  The 
first  work  undertaken  by  the  League  was  the  furnishing  of 
one  of  Miss  L.  J.  Kirkwood's  admirably  arranged  sewing 
boxes,  which  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Moore's  school  at  Myaska, 
Ockmulgee  Station,  Indian  Territory. 

"  A  strawberry  festival  was  given  in  June  to  the  Sun- 
day-school of  Immanuel  Chapel  by  Miss  Lemon's  and  Miss 
Janet  Flagg's  classes. 

"On  October  5,  Miss  Randolph's  class. sent  $5  to  the 
relief  fund  for  the  Charleston  sufferers.  Ten  dollars  was 
contributed  to  start  a  fresh-air  fund. 

"  In  December  Christmas  letters  and  cards  were  sent 
to  St.  John's  Hospital,  the  county  jail,  and  other  places. 

"  The  Christmas-tree  for  the  Immanuel  Chapel  Sunday- 
school  was  provided  for  by  three  boys'  classes,  viz:  Miss 
Hattie  Butler's,  Mr.  H.  Thayer's,  and  Mr.  Ketcham's. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  249 

"  Two  of  the  girls'  classes  had  charge  of  the  Christmas 
department  in  the  home  missionary  boxes,  and  the  letters 
received  show  that  their  efforts  were  fully  appreciated. 

"  In  January  a  box  containing  toys,  books,  dolls,  etc., 
was  sent  to  Wilson  Mission,  New  York.  A  doll  from  this 
box  was  given  to  a  little  deformed  girl  who  herself  is  a 
member  of  the  Ministering  Children's  League  in  connec- 
tion with  that  mission. 

"  Learning  of  a  dearth  of  good  reading  among  the  poor 
and  neglected  children  in  the  tenement  districts  of  New 
York,  the  members  of  the  League,  through  the  Wilson  Mis- 
sion, obtained  the  names  and  addresses  of  fifty  such  chil- 
dren, to  whom  they  have  sent  regularly  packages  of  pic- 
tures and  Sunday-school  papers. 

"  A  box  of  garments  was  sent  to  Mr.  Moore  in  Indian 
Territory.  The  making  of  them  was  given  to  one  of  the 
classes  in  Immanuel  Chapel  Sunday-school,  who  were  anx- 
ious to  earn  money  to  give  towards  the  furnishing  of  the 
new  chapel. 

"  In  January  a  box  containing  bedding,  clothing, 
worsted  slippers,  dolls,  scrap-books,  toys,  towels,  rolls  of 
strips  of  muslin  for  bandages,  and  many  other  articles 
necessary  for  hospital  use,  was  sent  to  Oroomiah  Hospital, 
Persia,  which  is  under  the  care  of  Rev.  M.  Cochran,  M.  D., 
of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions.  One  of  the  articles 
in  the  box  was  a  pretty  patchwork  quilt  from  the  members 
of  the  primary  department.  Ten  dollars  was  given  to 
Mrs.  Balch  to  start  a  milk  fund  to  supply  poor  sick  children 
with  good  milk. 

"  Fifteen  dollars  was  given  towards  a  box  of  clothing 
to  be  sent  to  Miss  Allison's  school  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mex- 
ico." 

The  second,  annual  reports  of  the  Ministering  Chil- 
dren's League  of  this  Sunday-school  were  read  at  the  close 
of  the  session  of  the  school  on  Sunday  morning,  March  25, 
1888.  The  superintendent  read  the  report  of  the  secretary. 
Miss  S.  L.  Heermance,  and  the  report  of  the  treasurer  was 
read  by  Master  Carl  Collins.     It  was  as  follows  : 

"The  collections  this  year  have  amounted  to  $160  23. 
This    added  to  the  fund  of  missionary  association  of  the 


250  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Sunday-school,  $39  74,  and  the  balance  from  last  year's 
account,  $2  86,  gives  us  a  credit  of  $202  83.  The  expendi- 
tures have  amounted  to  $141  08,  $61  81  of  which  has  been 
devoted  to  local  work,  $39  ?>•/  to  home  work,  and  $39  40  to 
foreign  work." 

In  the  last  annual  report  of  the  parent  society  the  work 
of  the  Yonkers  branch  is  thus  mentioned  :  "In  the  distri- 
bution of  Sunday-school  papers  some  of  the  members  write 
to  their  little  unknown  friends,  who  live  in  crowded  tene- 
ment houses  and  have  very  little  to  make  life  bright  and 
happy.  These  letters  give  great  delight  to  the  tenement- 
house  children,  for  whom  perhaps  the  postman  has  never 
before  opened  his  wonderful  bag." 

From  the  third  annual  report,  March,  1889,  presented 
by  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Thayer,  Secretary,  are  taken  the  fol- 
lowing items,  indicating  the  objects  to  which  contributions 
were  made : 

A  box  to  Miss  Bird,  at  Abeih,  Syria. 

To  Mrs.  Granger,  in  New  Mexico,  was  sent  a  well- 
filled  Christmas  box,  and  at  another  time  a  supply  of  col- 
lars, neckties,  ribbons,  etd.,  for  her  schoolgirls.  Five  dol- 
lars was  sent  to  purchase  a  lamp  for  the  church  in  New 
Mexico,  $10  towards  the  salary  of  Miss  Allison  at  Santa  F6, 
New  Mexico,  $15  to  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Association, 
$15  to  Mrs.  Balch  for  home  relief,  Sunday-school  papers  to 
a  school  at  Hampton  Roads,  Va. 

Gift  to  vSt.  John's  Hospital. 

Flowers  to  missions  from  May  to  October,  $15  to  The 
Pastor's  Helpers  in  Immanuel  Chapel.  Toys  and  articles 
for  Christmas  boxes  prepared  by  the  Ladies'  Missionary 
Association. 

Report  of  the  Treasurer : 

The  amount  of  the  collections,  the  balance  from  last 
year's  account,  etc.,  is  $206  59. 

The  expenditures  have  amounted  to  $178  80.  Of  this 
amount  $104  43  has  been  expended  for  local  work,  $71  87 
for  home  work,  and  $2  50  for  foreign  work. 

The  balance  for  this  year  is  $27  79. 

Carl  Collins,  Treasurer. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  251 

Officers  from  March,  1888,  to  March,  1889:  Miss  Susie 
L.  Heermance,  President ;  Miss  Olmsted,  Vice-President ; 
Miss  Thayer,  Secretary  ;  Carl  Collins,  Treasurer. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mrs.  F.  P.  Brown  as  Lady  Super- 
intendent of  this  school  in  the  spring  of  1887,  she  was  pre- 
sented with  three  beautiful  etchings  by  the  members  of 
the  school,  as  a  testimonial  of  regard  and  esteem. 

September,  1887,  the  Sunday-school  collected  $40  for 
the  starving  people  of  the  famine  district  in  Asia  Minor, 
which  was  most  gratefully  received  by  them  and  paved  the 
way  for  the  more  hearty  reception  of  the  gospel  message 
which  the  missionaries  were  striving  to  preach. 

In  March,  1888,  Mr.  Ellsworth  energetically  organized 
a  Sunday-school  paper  mission,  which  thus  far  has  been 
successfully  carried  out.  The  object  of  this  new  enter- 
prise was  to  supply  destitute  Sunday-schools  with  religious 
literature.  Three  schools  in  Hampton,  Va.,  have  been 
furnished  regularly  with  papers  contributed  by  the  main 
school. 

Christmas  of  1887  should  be  memorable  if  for  no  other 
reason  than  for  the  beauty  of  the  day  itself.  It  was  a  per- 
fect winter  day  of  dazzling  brightness,  the  air  cold,  crisp, 
and  exhilarating. 

On  Sunday  afternoon  the  school  with  the  Immanuel 
Chapel  Sunday-school  held  union  Christmas  services  in  the 
church.  The  galleries  and  pulpit  were  tastefully  fes- 
tooned with  Christmas  greens  entwined  with  silver  tinsel, 
which  glistened  in  the  gas  light,  producing  a  beautiful 
effect. 

The  teachers  and  pupils  of  the  two  schools  entered  the 
church  from  the  chapel  doors  on  the  north  and  south  aisles 
of  the  church  singing  the  processional  hymn,  "  Welcome 
Tidings  ^^'e  are  Bringing."  Singing,  responsive  readings, 
and  addresses  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Reid,  Rev.  Dr. 
Strobridge,  Rev.  Mr.  Penman,  and  W.  W.  Ellsworth,  con- 
stituted the  exercises  of  the  occasion. 

The  children  of  the  home  school  met  in  the  chapel  of 
the  church  on  Tuesday  evening  to  receive  their  gifts. 
The  exercises  began  by  singing  a  Christmas  carol.  The 
pastor  spoke  of  the  superiority  of   Christmas   day  above 


252  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

other  holidays,  in  that  its  joys  and  pleasures  continued 
throughout  the  week.  He  was  interrupted  in  his  pleasant 
remarks  by  the  clattering  of  footsteps,  and  St.  Nicholas, 
who  was  admirably  personated  by  one  of  the  young  men 
of  the  church,  appeared. 

After  the  dismantling  of  the  children's  tree,  the  doors 
of  the  primary  room  were  opened,  disclosing  a  larger 
Christmas-tree  resplendent  in  silver  ornaments,  made  more 
brilliant  by  the  calcium  lights  thrown  upon  them.  Among 
the  boughs  were  profusely  distributed  the  lighter  though 
not  by  any  means  all  of  the  least  valuable  gifts,  as  many 
were  written  orders  for  coal,  wood,  and  groceries. 

Beneath  the  bending  branches  of  the  tree,  adding  to 
its  wealth,  were  boxes,  bundles,  and  baskets,  all  filled  with 
a  generous  and  almost  indescribable  variety  of  gifts,  things 
to  eat  and  things  to  wear,  books  to  read  and  toys  to  play 
with,  vases,  cups,  and  cushions,  many  things  which  some 
were  done  with  but  very  good  for  others  to  begin  with. 

As  the  doors  rolled  open  and  the  lights  of  different 
colors  were  successively  thrown  upon  the  tree,  there  was  a 
burst  of  admiration  from  the  children.  After  giving  a  few 
moments  for  this  spontaneous  expression  of  surprise  and 
delight,  the  superintendent  led  off  in  the  doxology,  "  Praise 
God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  following  which  he 
asked  for  some  Scripture  verses  on  "  giving,"  repeating 
first  his  own :  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of 
these  my  brethren  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

A  teacher  followed  with  the  verse  :  "  To  do  good  and 
to  communicate  forget  not,  for  with  such  sacrifices  God  is 
well  pleased." 

With  these  exercises  closed  the  festival  occasion. 
The  gifts  on  the  tree  were  contributed  by  the  children  of 
the  school,  representing  about  $100,  and  were  distributed 
among  sixty-six  poor  families  in  the  city,  by  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  Sunday-school,  during  holiday  week. 

The  strawberry  festivals  held  by  the  school  were  occa- 
sions of  great  enjoyment,  cultivating  a  kindly  feeling 
among  its  teachers  and  friends. 

Easter  Sunday  was  observed  April  i,  1888,  by  a  union 
service  of  the  home  and  chapel  schools  held  in  the  church. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  253 

An  elaborate  and  well  arranged  programme,  consisting  of 
singing  and  responsive  reading  by  the  school,  was  sue- 
cessfully  carried  out,  and  interesting  addresses  were  made 
by  Rev.  John  Reid  and  Charles  R.  Leffingwell. 

Attention  was  given  by  Superintendent  Ellsworth  to 
the  selection  of  Sunday-school  helps,  which  are  approved 
and  extensively  used  by  Sunday-school  workers,  and  in 
directing  the  attention  of  the  teachers  to  the  publications 
which  had  special  reference  to  their  work. 

On  Sunday,  June  24,  1888,  the  Sunday-school  closed 
for  the  summer,  to  be  reopened  the  first  Sunday  in  Sep- 
tember. 

The  assistant  superintendent,  George  H.  Chamberlin, 
took  charge  of  the  exercises.  Ten  minutes  were  devoted 
to  class  review  of  the  lessons  of  the  last  quarter,  after  which 
the  golden  texts  for  the  quarter  were  recited  in  concert  by 
the  school. 

]Mr.  Chamberlin  spoke  on  the  duty  of  watchfulness, 
saying,  "  Many  have  learned  this  lesson  well  except  in  the 
line  of  religious  thought."  He  urged  the  necessity  of  con- 
stant watchfulness  against  sin  and  temptation,  also  watch- 
ing for  the  Lord  to  come.  This  duty  was  often  forgotten 
by  many  Christians.  The  Lord  will  come  again  to  reign 
on  the  earth.  He  will  come  to  judge  the  earth  in  right- 
eousness. Only  by  this  vigilant  watchfulness  can  we  be- 
come little  rays  of  light  in  the  world. 

Horace  H.  Thayer  spoke  briefly  on  the  subject  of  the 
lessons  for  the  quarter,  which  he  said  could  be  summed  up 
under  three  general  heads — Christ's  life  and  teachings, 
death,  resurrection  and  the  great  commission. 

George  D.  Mackay  spoke  on  the  great  commission,  "  Go 
ye  into  all  the  world,"  etc. 

He  said  we  could  get  but  little  idea  of  the  work  of 
foreign  missions  simply  by  statistics  showing  that  India 
to-day  had  4,200  missionaries  and  Africa  10,800;  this  in- 
cluded the  native  missionaries  and  helpers. 

He  gave  a  graphic  and  interesting  account  of  the 
gospel  in  the  little  island  of  New  Zealand.  In  the  year 
1 8 14  three  missionaries  went  there.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  island  had  devil  worship  and  sacrificed  their  children 


254  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

to  their  idols.  This  was  not  much  like  the  religion  of  the 
meek  and  lowly  Jesus.  In  the  year  1840  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  had  spread  and  permeated  the  whole  community, 
and  three  of  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  had  been  converted, 
and  during  the  same  year  a  great  distribution  of  Christian 
literature  occurred.  There  were  distributed  5,000  Bible 
lesson  slips,  6,900  catechisms,  and  15,000  testaments. 

To-day,  (1888),  nine-tenths  of  the  population  are  nom- 
inal Christians  and  the  number  of  children  gathered  in  the 
Sunday-school  .  is  12,000.  Recently  a  grand  missionary 
meeting  had  been  held  at  which  sixteen  native  preachers 
made  addresses.  Thus  in  fifty  years  this  island  had  been 
changed  from  barbarism  to  Christianity. 

In  conclusion  Mr.  Mackay  spoke  of  the  great  joy  of 
being  used  as  instruments  in  converting  the  world  to  the 
blessed  religion  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  of  the  necessity  of 
continuing  in  the  good  work  of  giving  the  gospel  to  the 
world.  The  school  closed  by  singing,  "  The  Light  of  the 
world  is  Jesus." 

A  unique  service  was  held  on  Sunday  morning,  June  g, 
1889,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  the  chil- 
dren of  the  home  and  mission  schools  took  a  leading  part 
in  scripture  recitations  and  songs. 

A  pleasant  feature  of  the  service  was  the  reading  and 
presentation  by  Rev.  Dr.  Reid,  of  the  resolutions  passed  by 
the  teachers  and  scholars  of  the  home  school,  in  grateful 
recognition  of  the  fidelity  and  devotion  which  ever  charac- 
terized the  administration  of  the  retiring  superintendent, 
William  W.  Ellsworth. 

The  newly  elected  superintendents  of  both  home  and 
mission  schools,  George  H.  Chamberlin  and  Wells  Olm- 
sted, were  formally  installed  in  accordance  with  a  new 
ritual  recommended  by  Sunday-school  workers  and  ap- 
proved by  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  were  warmly  wel- 
comed by  the  pastor  and  teachers  with  assurances  of  faith- 
ful support. 

The  pastor's  address  to  the  children  was  appropriate 
to  the  occasion,  on  the  making  of  vows  and  the  paying  of 
them,  bearing  the  stamp  of  the  doctor's  felicitous  manner. 
The  singing  was  spiritedly  led  by  Rev.  J.  H.  de  Vries, 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  255 

pastor  of  Immanuel  Chapel,  the  children  entering  in  with 
enthusiasm  and  delight  as  became  the  occasion. 

The  teachers  connected  with  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  Sunday-School,  by  invitation  of  their  suDerin- 
tendent,  George  A.  Chamberlin,  gathered  in  Rev.  Mr. 
de  Vries'  study  in  the  church  Friday  evening,  November  i , 
1889,  at  seven  o'clock,  to  their  first  tea  meeting.  These 
meetings  are  to  be  held  quarterly,  and  are  planned  similar 
to  the  teacher's  meetings  of  the  Sunday-school  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Alexander  McLaren's  church,  England.  They  are  in- 
tended only  for  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the  school  with 
the  exception  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Reid,  and  Mrs.  Reid, 
who  were  especially  invited.  Topics  relating  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  school  and  of  Sunday-school  work  in  general 
are  discussed  at  the  table. 

Ralph  E.  Prime  read  a  paper  at  the  table  noting  some 
errors  in  Sunday-school  teaching.  Theodore  Oilman  gave 
some  helpful  suggestions  as  to  the  conduct  of  the  benevo- 
lent work  of  the  school  according  to  the  plan  of  the  King's 
Sons  and  King's  Daughters,  which  with  modifications,  had 
been  recently  adopted  by  the  school.  Rev.  Dr.  Reid,  his 
assistant.  Rev.  J.  H.  de  Vries,  and  Theodore  Oilman  gave 
their  views  in  relation  to  catechetical  instruction  in  the 
Sunday-school,  which  elicited  an  interesting  and  spirited 
discussion  among  the  teachers.  After  the  bountiful  and 
appetizing  but  simple  meal,  which  had  been  provided  by 
the  teachers  and  tastefully  spread  by  the  committee,  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Fancher,  Miss  Julia  Baird,  Miss  Mary  Warner,  and 
the  Misses  Heermance— the  meeting  closed  with  singing 
the  doxology  and  the  benediction  by  the  pastor.  There 
were  twenty-eight  persons  present. 

These  meetings,  which  have  been  inaugurated  by 
Superintendent  O.  A.  Chamberlin,  promise  to  be  a  helpful 
auxiliary  to  the  future  work  of  this  Sunday-school. 

The  primary  department  of  the  school  is  held  in  a 
room  adjoining  the  main  room,  and  is  attractively  and  con- 
veniently furnished.  This  department  numbered  (1889) 
fifty  pupils — at  this  writing,  April  1 891,  forty.  The  inter- 
national lessons  are  taught,  illustrated  by  blackboard  exer- 
cises and  "  Bible  Lesson  Pictures." 


256  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  commandments,  the  apostles'  creed,  and  the 
"  Child's  Short  Catechism,"  are  also  taught,  the  latter  the 
first  Sunday  in  the  month  in  connection  with  the  regular 
lesson.  The  paper  entitled  "Our  Little  Ones"  is  given, 
with  Scripture  picture  cards,  for  punctuality  and  de- 
portment. 

The  principles  of  systematic  and  cheerful  giving  are 
taught  according  to  Scripture  precepts,  and  the  children 
are  encouraged  to  earn  their  money  and  "  not  to  offer  the 
Lord  that  which  costs  them  nothing." 

In  1889  the  following  change  was  made  in  collecting 
the  contributions  of  the  class.  The  teachers  prepared 
numbered  envelopes  which  were  distributed  monthly  to 
the  children,  each  child  being  known  on  the  roll  by  a  cor- 
responding number  on  the  envelope.  This  contains  the 
collection  money  and  is  placed  in  a  small  basket  as  the 
child  enters  the  room.  This  plan  obviates  the  necessity  of 
the  ancient  custom  of  calling  the  roll,  which  tends  to  dis- 
order, and  the  time  thus  occupied  is  used  to  better  advan- 
tage and  at  the  close  of  the  session  the  roll  is  marked  from 
the  collected  envelopes.  This  system  has  doubled  the 
amount  of  their  collections. 

A  monthly  contribution  of  the  class  is  given  to  Im- 
manuel  Chapel  mission  fund.  The  children  of  the  depart- 
ment, from  March,  1888,  to  this  date,  August,  1891,  have 
sent  upwards  of  3,000  of  their  Sunday-school  papers — to 
Jemisontown,  Old  Town,  Salamanca,  and  Elko,  mission 
stations  among  the  Senacas  in  the  Indian  mission,  western 
New  York — mailing  at  their  own  expense. 

The  former  superintendents  of  the  primary  depart- 
ment have  been :  Miss  Margaret  Morrison,  Mrs.  S.  H. 
Thayer,  J.  W.  Skinner,  G.  Livingstone  Morse,  Miss  Ar- 
menia Baird,  Miss  Carlese  Simpson,  and  Mrs.  John  C. 
Havemeyer.  The  present  Superintendent  is  Miss  Irene 
Hine,  who  has  had  charge  of  it  since  November  6,  1884. 
She  has  been  assisted  in  this  department  since  April,  1887, 
by  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirk  wood,  who  resigned,  June,  1891. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  December  22,  1889,  the  school 
and  the  Immanuel  Chapel  Sunday-school,  held  union 
Christmas  services  in  the  church.     The  exercises  were  con- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  257 

ducted  by  the  Superintendent,  G.  A.  Chamberlin,  and  con- 
sisted of  responsive  Scripture  reading  and  the  singing  of 
carols. 

Addresses  were  made  by  the  pastor  Rev.  Dr.  Reid, 
and  Superintendent  Chamberlin.  "  The  Bethlehem  Shep- 
herd Boy's  Song  "  was  beautifully  and  effectively  recited 
in  concert  by  five  little  girls,  Edith  Reid,  Hattie  Waring, 
Bessie  Johnson,  Mabel  Canning,  and  Frederica  Cham- 
berlin— the  school  singing  the  refrain, 

"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest. 
And  peace,  good-will  toward  men." 

On  Friday  evening,  December  27,  the  children  of  the 
home  school  met  in  the  chapel  of  the  church  to  receive 
their  gifts.  The  programme  was  announced  by  the  Super- 
intendent, G.  A.  Chamberlin. 

The  exercises  opened  with  a  carol  by  the  children, 
after  which  Prof.  Lesher,  of  New  York,  played  on  the 
zither.  Elsie  Gilman  recited  "  Hang  up  the  Baby's  Stock- 
ing," which  pleased  the  children  very  much.  A  series  of 
stereopticon  views  was  displayed  by  George  D.  Mackay, 
beginning  with  some  humorous  pictures.  "The  Night 
Before  Christmas  "  was  very  effectively  rendered  by  Mrs. 
J.  Lindsay  Porteous,  and  illustrated  by  means  of  the  stere- 
opticon. The  recitation  by  Hattie  Bronson,  "The  Night 
After  Christmas,"  was  very  pleasing. 

Pretty  Japanese  baskets  filled  with  mottoes  and  choice 
confectionery  were  distributed  to  all  the  scholars.  Horace 
H.  Thayer  and  Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries  were  recipients 
of  presents  from  their  classes. 

A  feature  of  the  entertainments  of  this  school  for  sev- 
eral years  past  has  been  the  bringing  of  gifts  by  the  chil- 
dren, to  be  distributed  among  the  poor.  A  large  table  was 
filled  with  groceries,  toys,  books,  etc.,  and  orders  were  re- 
ceived for  coal  and  flour.  Besides  these  there  was  $15  in 
money. 

The  pastor's  report  to  the  Presbytery,  April  1891,  was 
as  follows :  Number  of  officers  and  teachers,  34 ;  number 
of  scholars,  243  ;  average  attendance  163  ;  number  united 
with  the  church  in  March,  13  ;  contributions  $450 ;  number 
of  books  in  library,  607.     A  Young  People's  Christian  En- 

bunday-scUool  Work.  I'J 


258  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

deavor  Society  was  organized  April  15,  1891,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  23. 

The  helps  now  provided  for  the  teachers  are  Peloubet's 
Notes  and  the  "Sunday-school  Times."  The  , Peloubet's 
graded  series  of  question  books  are  used  by  the  scholars. 
This  series  was  introduced  into  the  school  in  December, 
1886.  The  Sunday-school  hymn  books  are  "Spiritual 
Songs  "  and  selections  from  Handel  and  Haydn.  The  Sun- 
day-school paper  is  "  Our  Sunday  Afternoon  "  for  the  main 
school  and  the  picture  paper,  "  Our  Little  Ones,"  for  the 
Primary  Department. 

The  names  of  the  superintendents  in  the  order  of  their 
services  are  as  follows  :  Lemuel  Watts  Wells,  who  was  the 
first  superintendent,  elected  in  1852;  William  C.  Foote, 
elected  in  1858,  and  resigned  May  15,  1864.  He  was  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  Donnelson.  S.  H.  Thayer,  elected  May  22, 
1864,  to  1867;  T.  Fowler  Travis,  elected  May  23,  1867; 
William  A.  Gibson;  Ezekiel  Y.  Bell,  elected  1873,  to  1874; 
John  W.  Skinner,  Acting  Superintendent  during  Mr. 
Bell's  absence  in  1873;  G.  Livingston  Morse,  1874  to  1876; 
Walter  W.  Law,  Assistant  Superintendent.  Rev.  T.  Ralston 
Smith,  D.  D.,  Pastor,  elected  April,  1876,  to  1879.  G.  Liv- 
ingston Morse,  Assistant ;  Edward  Dwight,  elected  April, 
1879,  to  1880.  WiUiam  R.  Mott  officiated  during  Mr. 
Dwight's  absence  in  Europe.  Horace  H.  Thayer,  elected 
April,  1880,  to  1881  ;  Charles  Collins,  elected  April,  1881, 
to  1883,  assisted  by  Jasper  Van  Vleck  ;  Walter  Graves,  Sep- 
tember, 1883,  to  1884;  WilHam  W.  Ellsworth,  elected  May, 
1885  ;  and  William  E.  Ketcham,  Assistant  Superintendent, 
elected  May,  1885,  resigned  June,  1889:  and  George  A. 
Chamberlin,  elected  June  9,  1889.  Under  his  superintend- 
ency  the  school  has  met  with  marked  success  and  is  grow, 
ing  in  interest  and  prosperity. 

The  present — January,  1891 — officers  and  teachers  of 
the  school  are :  George  A.  Chamberlin,  Superintendent. 
George  D.  Mackay,  Vice-President,  was  succeeded  February, 
1891,  by  R.  E.  Prime.  Mrs.  Henry  A.  Blake,  Lady  Super- 
intendent, elected  November  10,  1889.  Mrs.  Ezra  Fancher 
succeeded  Mrs.  Blake,  who  resigned  May,  1890.  William 
R.  Mott,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  George  A.  Flagg,  Libra- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  259 

rian,  who  was  appointed  Assistant  Librarian  April,  1883, 
and  has  had  the  entire  charge  of  the  library  since  April, 
1886;  J.  E.  Jardine,  Assistant  Librarian. 

The  record  book  of  the  school  for  1889-91  shows  the 
following  teachers :  Theodore  Oilman,  Horace  H.  Thayer, 
George  A.  Chamberlin,  Ralph  E.  Prime,  George  D.  Mac- 
kay,  Howard  Chamberlin,  Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries, 
teacher  of  the  Young  Men's  Bible-class,  meeting  in  the 
pastor's  study  in  the  church  ;  Miss  Frances  L.  Upham,  Miss 
Julia  Baird,  iliss  Mary  F.  Randolph,  Miss  Mariette  Flagg, 
Miss  Mary  Warner,  Miss  Hamblin,  Miss  J.  E.  Lemon,  Miss 
Susie  L.  Heermance,  Miss  Georgie  Heermance,  Miss  Geor- 
gia Law,  Miss  Louise  J.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Thayer,  Miss  Kate 
Prime,  Miss  Margaret  Otis,  Miss  Lucy  Otis,  Mary  L.  Lewis, 
Dr.  Franklin  Soper,  Prof.  Ezra  B.  Fancher,  R.  Earl  Prime, 
Jr.,  Schuyler  A.  Bogart,  Ray  Otis,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Fancher,  Miss 
Louise  D.  Pitkin,  Miss  Edith  Elting,  Miss  Elizabeth  Flagg, 
Miss  Strang,  Miss  Hattie  M.  Soper,  Miss  Alta  V.  Hodges, 
Miss  Fannie  Barnes  Blake,  and  Miss  Louise  M.  Goodrich. 
Miss  Irene  A.  Hine  is  Superintendent  of  the  Primary  De- 
partment, and  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirkwood,  Assistant  Super- 
intendent. 

Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries  is  the  director  of  music, 
assisted  by  Miss  Fannie  L.  Upham. 

The  school  has  a  Teachers'  Reserve  List,  the  object  of 
which  is  the  supplying  of  the  places  of  any  teachers  when 
absent.  The  following  are  the  present  members  of  this 
class:  Mrs.  T.  M.  Lyall,  Mrs.  J.  Lindsay  Porteous,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Soper,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Heermance,  Miss  A.  E.  Kirkwood. 

The  school  has  a  birthday-box.  December,  1886,  the 
proceeds  of  it — $13  39 — were  appropriated  to  the  Charity 
Organization  Society.  February,  1888,  in  compliance  with 
the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  Balch,  the  amount  in  the  box — 
$10  58 — was  "  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  twenty-five 
pairs  of  rubber  shoes  for  those  who  live  in  the  poorly 
paved  parts  of  the  city  and  were  obliged  to  go  through 
the  slush  and  mud."  One  destitute  family  enumera- 
ted "nice  new  rubbers  as  among  the  blessings  they  en- 
joyed." 

William  R.  Mott  has  been  the  efficient,  prompt,  and 


26o  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

genial  secretary  of  this  school  for  twenty  years,  and  for  his 
long  term  of  service  in  connection  with  this  school  stands 
fifth  on  the  "  Honor  Roll  "  of  Sunday-school  teachers  in 
Yonkers. 

The  enrolment  list  September,  1887,  was  as  follows: 
Whole  number  of  officers  and  teachers,  29 ;  scholars,  290 — 
sixty-two  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Primary  Depart- 
ment. During  the  year  ending  1887  seventeen  of  the 
scholars  from  the  Sunday-school  united  with  the  church  on 
profession  of  faith.  The  number  uniting  with  the  church 
from  January,  1888,  to  September,  1888,  was  fifteen.  There 
are  609  volumes  in  the  library. 

The  teachers'  prayer-meeting  is  held  for  fifteen  min- 
utes on  Sunday  morning  before  the  opening  of  the 
school. 

The  present  membership  of  the  school — January,  1 891 — 
officers  and  teachers,  is  325. 

The  school  record  books  show  that  a  large  number  of 
the  pupils  succeeded  their  parents  as  teachers  in  the  school, 
a  prophecy  of  the  hymn  sung  on  one  of  their  anniversary 
occasions,  entitled  "  The  True  Succession." 

This  Sunday-school,  like  the  banyan-tree,  bending 
down  its  branches  to  take  root  on  every  side,  is  the  parent 
tree  from  whose  branches  have  originated  three  Sunday- 
schools,  some  of  whose  teachers  subsequently  became  the 
founders  of  the  Westminster  and  Dayspring  Presbyterian 
churches  and  the  Immanuel  Chapel  Sunday-school. 

This  school  has  as  representative  in  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary field,  Miss  Ada  M.  Daughaday,  who  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful teacher  in  the  main  school,  also  of  the  Primary  De- 
partment. She  has  been  laboring  with  success  in  Japan 
for  several  years.  In  the  report  of  1867  of  the  Osaka  sta- 
tion of  the  Japan  Mission  of  the  American  Board,  in  a  brief 
notice  of  the  First  Church  of  the  Osaka  Mission,  her  work 
is  thus  mentioned  :  "  Great  praise  is  due  to  Miss  Daugha- 
day, who  devotedly  and  systematically  has  worked,  and  is 
working  alone,  in  this  much-crowded  school."  The  school 
numbers  213  pupils. 

The  advisory  committee  on  benevolence  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  "  King's  Sons  and  Daughters  "  of  this  Sunday- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,  261 

school  are :  Miss  Louise  J.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Marietta  Flag-g-, 
Miss  Heermance,  and  Miss  Kate  Prime. 

The  amount  raised  for  home  and  foreign  missions  by 
the  King's  Sons  and  Daughters  for  the  year  1890  was 
$225  50.  The  President  of  this  organization  is  Miss  Susie 
L.  Heermance,  the  Secretary  Miss  Lyla  M.  Soper,  and  the 
Treasurer  is  H.  G.  Waring. 


262  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER    X. 

WESTMINSTER     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH     AND     SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  was  the  out- 
growth of  the  School  Street  Mission  Sunday-school,  which 
was  organized  September  i6,  1855,  and  the  facts  concern- 
ing the  organization  and  history  of  this  church  are  as 
follows : 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1857  the  Sunday- 
school  was  graciously  visited  with  the  outpouring  of  God's 
Spirit,  and  in  the  following  January  there  were  some  seven- 
teen conversions  among  the  scholars  and  as  many  more 
M^ere  inquirers.  The  question  was  then  forced  upon  the 
teachers  as  to  their  duty  in  the  circumstances.  A  meeting 
was  held  at  the  residence  of  Archibald  Baxter,  on  Locust 
Hill  Avenue,  January  ig,  1858.  There  were  present  fifteen 
persons,  all  but  one  teachers  in  the  school. 

After  careful  deliberation  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion 
of  the  meeting  that  the  circumstances  in  which  they  had 
been  providentially  placed,  the  past  success  and  present  pros- 
pects of  the  enterprise,  called  for  a  new  organization,  and 
the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  we  who  are  here  present  deem  it  our 
duty  to  form  a  new  Presbyterian  Church  in  Yonkers. 

Resolved,  That  we  apply  to  the  Third  Presbytery  of 
New  York  to  effect  the  proposed  organization. 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  John  Davidson,  Josiah  Rich,  and 
Archibald  Baxter  be  a  committee  to  make  application  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hatfield,  of  New  York  city,  to  procure  the 
necessary  action  of  the  said  Presbytery. 

Resolved,  That  we,  being  members  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  Yonkers,  address  the  following  communica- 
tion to  the  pastor  of  the  said  church :  "  We,  the  under- 
signed, members  of  your  church,  deeming  it  to  be  our 
duty  to  form  a  new  church  in  this  village,  respectfully 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  263 

request  you  to  furnish  us  with  the  necessary  letters  of  dis- 
mission. 

Archibald  Baxter,  Jessie  Baxter, 

Henry  H.  Parsons,  Emelia  Parsons, 

JosiAH  Rich,  Carrie  M.  Rich, 

John  Nairn,  Janet  C.  Nairn, 

John  Davidson,  Anne  Davidson, 

H.  A.  Underwood,  Emma  P.  Underwood, 

Duncan  C.  Ralston,  Mary  Ralston, 

William  Steedman,  Marion  P.  Steedman." 

To  this,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  January  20, 
1858,  there  were  added  the  names  of  Charlotte  Baird  and 
Lucy  Marsh. 

On  January  25,  1858,  the  Third  Presbytery  of  New 
York  received  and  entertained  the  application,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1858,  the  church  was  organized  with  the  already 
named  eighteen  persons  as  members.  Rev.  D.  B.  Coe, 
D.  D.,  presided,  and  organized  the  church  under  the  name 
of  the  Westminster  Church,  Yonkers.  Rev.  D.  M.  Seward, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  V.  M.  Hulbert,  D.  D.,  and  Dr.  Kinsley  also 
took  part  in  the  exercises  of  organization.  A  congrega- 
tional meeting  followed,  when  Messrs.  Archibald  Baxter, 
Henry  A.  Underwood,  and  William  Steedman  were  elected 
elders,  the  two  latter  receiving  ordination,  and  Messrs. 
John  Davidson  and  John  Nairn  were  chosen  deacons.  Of 
the  original  eighteen  members  but  one — Mrs.  Emelia  Par- 
sons— remains  in  the  communion  of  the  Westminster 
Church  to-day,  May,  1891. 

In  the  historical  discourse  preached  by  Rev.  L.  W. 
Mudge,  in  July,  1876,  from  which  a  portion  of  the  history 
of  this  church  is  taken,  he  says :  "As  this  history  is  to  go 
on  record,  courtesy  to  other  denominations  demands  some 
explanation  of  the  fact  that  a  union  enterprise  was  so 
abruptly  turned  into  a  Presbyterian  Church.  The  fact  is  it 
was  never  a  union  Sabbath-school  but  in  name.  Its  origi- 
nators and  supporters,  its  missionary  and  stated  supply, 
and,  as  far  as  any  record  shows,  every  one  of  its  teachers 
were  Presbyterian.  If  any  members  of  other  churches 
were  connected  with  the  school,  the  record  shows  conclu- 
sively that  it  was  by  accident  of  invitation  or  personal  in- 


264  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

terest,  and  that  no  other  than  Presbyterians  were  ever  con- 
nected with  its  support  or  control." 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  RoUin  A. 
Sawyer  (now  Rev.  Dr.  Sawyer),  who  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate, February  11,  1858.  The  ordination  and  installation 
services  occurred  at  the  Getty  Lyceum,  February  17.  The 
devotional  exercises  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Wm.  Babbit, 
Moderator  of  the  Presbytery,  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer  resigned 
the  pastorate  to  accept  a  call  extended  to  him  from  the 
First  Church  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  April  3,  1862. 

The  first  persons  among  the  converts  who  presented 
themselves  to  the  session  and  were  received  into  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Lorenz, 
the  latter  of  whom  subsequently  became  an  active  and 
efficient  worker,  both  in  the  church  and  Sunday-school, 
until  her  removal  from  the  city.  Thirty-two  were  added 
at  the  first  communion,  March  14,  1858,  and  by  the  end  of 
the  church  year,  the  church  reported  to  the  Presbytery  a 
membership  of  no. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  in  his  historical  discourse  says  re- 
garding the  early  history  of  this  church  : 

"  We  have  been  very  particular  as  to  the  incidents 
connected  with  the  formation  of  the  church,  but  must  pass 
over  the  years  following  in  more  rapid  review." 

In  the  record  of  October  28,  1858,  we  find  this  minute  : 

Resolved  unanimously.  That  it  is  expedient  for  this 
church  to  take  immediate  steps  towards  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship. 

The  matter  was  given  into  the  hands  of  a  committee 
of  five :  Messrs.  Archibald  Baxter,  John  Davidson,  Henry 
A.  Underwood,  Josiah  Rich,  and  Frederick  Lorenz.  In 
December  the  Church  Manual  was  published  in  both  En- 
glish and  German.  On  th§  23d  of  December,  Josiah  Rich 
was  chosen  elder,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  Jan- 
uary 2,  1859. 

Concerning  the  church  building,  which  was  in  progress 
at  this  time,  the  record  is  almost  entirely  silent.  Here,  as 
in  many  other  matters,  I  have  been  compelled  to  rely  upon 
information  received  from  former  pastors  and  the  older 
members  of  the  church  still  in  its  communion.     It  seems 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  265 

that  the  place  of  worship  was  changed  in  June,  1858,  to  a 
hall  which  was  known  as  the  lecture-room,  corner  of 
North  Broadway  and  Wells  Avenue.  For  the  present 
building,  lots  of  ground  were  given  by  Josiah  Rich,  on 
Woodworth  Avenue,  for  which  an  exchange  was  made  to 
the  two  lots  on  which  the  church  now  stands,  the  four 
vacant  lots  to  the  north  having  been  purchased  at  $700 
apiece.  The  church  building  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of 
$8,000,  and  $3,500  had  been  raised  by  April,  1859.  This 
building  was  a  brick  structure,  and  its  seating  capacity, 
with  the  gallery,  was  between  500  and  600. 

The  church  was  dedicated,  a  considerable  debt  remain- 
ing. On  the  first  Sabbath  of  May,  Mr.  Sawyer  preached  in 
the  morning  on  a  "  Plea  for  Free  Churches,"  a  union  ser- 
vice being  held  in  the  evening.  Interesting  exercises  were 
held  during  the  week,  especially  on  Thursday,  when  Dr. 
Cuyler  preached  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening  a 
number  of  clergymen  spoke,  the  principal  address  being 
by  Prof.  R.  D.  Hitchcock,  strongly  indorsing  the  objects  of 
the  enterprise.  Among  those  who  took  part  in  these  exer- 
cises, special  mention  should  be  made  of  Rev.  Robert  Kirk~ 
wood,  R.  G.  Pardee,  and  Mr.  Edman,  then  a  student  and 
now  a  minister,  having  had  charge  of  Mr.  Moody's  church 
in  Chicago  during  his  absence.  It  was  an  evident  blow  to 
the  now  settled  church  that,  immediately  after  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  building,  the  pastor  was  compelled  to  take  a 
long  vacation  of  four  months  on  account  of  the  state  of  his 
health.  During  his  absence  the  church  was  supplied  gen- 
erally by  professors  of  Princeton  and  New  York. 

On  August  14,  1862,  a  call  was  given  for  the  pastoral 
services  of  Rev.  H.  G.  Hinsdale,  which  was  declined. 

October  16  of  the  same  year  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev. 
Samuel  Thompson  Carter,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Seminary, 
which  was  accepted,  and  on  Thursday,  November  13,  1862, 
he  was  regularly  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try and  installed  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  Dr.  McElroy 
presided  and  preached  a  sermon  from  Jer.  23  :  25-29. 

In  the  early  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Carter,  the  church 
sustained  a  severe  loss  in  the  removal  from  this  place  and 
country  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John   Nairn  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


266  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

William  Steedman.  To  fill  the  vacancies  thus  made  in  the 
offices  of  the  church,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  and  con- 
gregation held  March  26,  1863,  G.  P.  Reevs,  M.  D.,  was 
chosen  elder,  and  E.  Curtice  and  D.  C.  Ralston  deacons. 
They  were  ordained  and  installed  the  Sunday  following. 
On  April  27,  1864,  another  of  the  original  members,  Archi- 
bald Baxter,  having  removed  to  Brooklyn,  resigned  his 
eldership  and  took  his  letter  of  dismission  ;  and  on  Sep- 
tember 14,  1865,  James  E.  Goddard  was  elected  elder,  and 
Alexander  O.  Kirk  wood  deacon,  they  being  ordained  Sun- 
day, September  24. 

The  church  during  Mr.  Carter's  pastorate  was  for  some 
time  prosperous,  and  was  especially  noted  for  its  delightful 
social  character,  and  through  his  efforts  in  the  year  1864  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  was  raised  for  liquidating  the 
debt  upon  the  church,  which,  with  liberal  gifts  from  others, 
secured  the  removal  of  the  entire  debt. 

Rev.  Mr.  Carter  continued  to  be  pastor  of  the  church 
until  April  9,  1867,  when  he  resigned. 

At  this  juncture  the  church  passed  through  some  un- 
happy experiences  which  for  truth's  sake  must  be  noted 
but  need  not  be  dwelt  upon.  The  congregation  declined 
to  unite  with  the  pastor  in  his  request,  and  tendered  him  a 
leave  of  absence  for  any  length  of  time  that  might  be  nec- 
essary for  the  complete  restoration  of  his  health.  Mr. 
Carter  pressed  his  resignation  and  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  by  the  Second  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
April  16,  1867. 

Mr.  Carter's  pastorate  extended  over  a  period  of  four 
years  and  six  months,  one  month  longer  than  that  of  Mr. 
Sawyer,  although  the  latter  was  in  connection  with  the 
enterprise  for  nearly  two  years  previous^  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church.  During  Mr.  Carter's  pastorate  eighty- 
nine  were  added  to  the  church,  forty-six  on  certificate  and 
forty-three  on  profession. 

Rev.  Mr.  Carter  after  a  season  of  rest  assumed  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Yorkville  Presbyterian  Church,  New  York, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  After  this  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church,  Huntington,  L.  I.,  where 
he  still  remains,  April,  1891. 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  267 

Rev.  Mr.  Carter  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Lewis  Ward 
Mudge  ( now  Rev.  Dr.  Mudge ),  also  a  graduate  from 
Princeton  Seminary,  who  accepted  the  call  extended  to 
him  by  the  church  July  11,  1867.  The  services  of  ordina- 
tion and  installation  took  place  on  Thursday,  August  i. 
Rev.  Matthew  T.  Adam  was  moderator.  Prof.  W.  H. 
Green,  D.  D.,  of  Princeton,  preached  the  sermon  from 
Luke  24 :  8  :  "And  they  remembered  his  words." 

Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  continued  as  pastor  until  May  6,  1 877, 
when  he  resigned  his  pastorate  to  accept  a  call  which  had 
been  extended  to  him  in  April  of  the  same  year  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Princeton,  N.  J.  Thus  was 
brought  to  a  close  a  pastorate  of  nearly  ten  years,  which 
covered  one-half  of  the  period  of  the  existence  of  the 
church.  His  ministry  was  most  fruitful  in  additions  to  the 
church  and  his  labors  most  abundant  in  every  good  word 
and  work  both  in  the  church  and  in  the  community,  and 
during  his  pastorate  there  were  added  to  the  membership 
roll  298,  of  which  189  were  on  profession  and  109  on  cer- 
tificate. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  was  followed  by  Rev.  John  Dixon, 
(now  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon). 

Rev.  Mr.  Dixon  served  the  church  until  August  10, 
1884,  when  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Westchester,  he  having  accepted  a  call  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  July  of  the 
same  year.  Mr,  Dixon's  resignation  was  accepted  reluc- 
tantly by  the  church  to  which  he  had  endeared  himself  by 
his  tender  care  and  sympathetic  feeling,  as  their  pastor,  as 
a  Christian  gentleman  of  noble  bearing,  and  as  a  clear, 
sound,  and  powerful  expositor  of  Scripture  truth. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dixon's  pastorate  was  of  nearly  seven  years 
and  was  marked  by  great  prosperity  in  every  department 
of  the  church,  which  grew  in  social  influence  and  financial 
power.  The  erection  and  completion  of  the  new  church 
edifice  was  largely  due  to  his  financial  skill,  untiring  indus- 
try and  never  ceasing  faithfulness. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  a  building 
fund  for  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship  was  started. 
In  this  new  project  the  young  ladies  of  the  church  were 


268  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

most  active  and  efficient.  In  February,  1875,  a  fair  was 
held  in  Radford  Hall  lasting  three  days,  the  proceeds  of 
which  and  a  series  of  entertainments  held  about  that  time, 
were  over  $1,500.  In  the  spring  of  1878  the  subject  of  a 
new  church  building  was  again  agitated  and  another  fair 
was  held  in  Washburn  Hall  in  December,  1878,  under  the 
management  of  the  Ladies'  New  Church  Building  Society, 
of  which  Mrs.  John  Dickson  was  President,  Mrs.  E.  Cur- 
tice and  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Otis,  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs.  A.  O. 
Kirkwood,  Secretary,  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Brown,  Treasurer. 
This  fair  netted  $1,400. 

A  festival  and  tent  sale  held  in  a  large  tent — which 
pleasantly  accommodated  a  thousand  persons — on  the 
grounds  adjoining  the  church,  realized  over  $400  over  and 
above  expenses. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1878,  a  building  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Messrs.  Charles  R.  Otis,  Norton  P. 
Otis,  E.  A.  Houston,  J.  T.  Sproull,  and  R.  E.  Prime  were 
appointed  with  power  to  add  to  their  number.  Mr.  Prime 
declining  to  serve,  his  place  was  filled  and  the  committee 
enlarged  by  the  election  of  Mr.  W.  T.  Crook  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Dixon.  The  building  committee  were  prohibited,  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  congregation,  from  incurring  any 
debt  in  the  erection  of  the  new  building.  At  this  time  it 
was  intended  to  build  on  the  adjoining  lots,  which  had 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  church  from  the  start,  and 
which  were  bought  for  that  purpose.  The  continued 
growth  of  the  Sunday-school  prompted  the  building  com- 
mittee to  recommend  to  the  trustees  to  exchange  their 
property  for  a  better  site  immediately  opposite.  This  was 
done  and  the  plans  were  altered  so  as  to  give  accommoda- 
tions to  over  600  scholars.  Upon  this  new  site  the  founda- 
tion was  laid  in  the  fall  of  1879. 

The  services  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
new  church  were  held  in  the  old  church  building  on  Thurs- 
day afternoon.  May  20,  1880,  at  2 :  30  o'clock.  The  follow- 
ing was  the  order  of  exercises :  Invocation  by  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Allison.  Hymn,  "Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty." Reading  of  the  Scriptures  by  Rev.  David  Cole, 
D.  D.    Prayer  by  Rev.  John  Reid.    Address  by  Rev.  RoUin 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  269 

A.  Sawyer,  D.  D.  Hymn,  "  I  Love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord." 
Address  by  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter.  Hymn,  "  Christ  is 
Made  the  Sure  Foundation."  Doxology,  "  Praise  God  from 
Whom  all  Blessings  Flow." 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  services  the  clergymen  and 
congregation  proceeded  to  the  site  of  the  new  church  edi- 
fice, near  the  northeast  corner  of  Warburton  and  Wells 
Avenues.  After  prayer  was  offered,  the  pastor.  Rev.  John 
Dixon,  repeated  the  following  words :  "  Except  the  Lord 
build  the  house  they  labor  in  vain  who  build  it.  Our  help 
is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  who  made  heaven  and  earth. 
Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  which  is  laid, 
which  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  chief  corner-stone,  elect,  precious, 
to  whom  coming  as  unto  a  living  stone,  disallowed  indeed 
of  men,  but  chosen  of  God  and  precious,  and  who  is  God 
over  all  blessed  for  ever  more,  amen." 

Holding  the  silver  trowel  in  his  hand— which  was  pre- 
sented for  this  occasion  by  Charles  Edwin  Otis,  son  of 
Mayor  Otis — Mr.  Dixon  said  :  "  In  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  I  lay  the  corner- 
stone of  a  building  to  be  here  erected  under  the  name  of 
the  Westminster  Church  of  Yonkers,  and  devoted  to  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  usages  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States." 

Prayer  was  then  offered,  and  the  benediction  closed 
the  interesting  exercises.* 

The  copper  box  which  was  placed  in  the  corner-stone 
contained  the  following  articles :  A  Bible,  a  copy  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  photo- 
graphs of  the  pastors  of  the  church,  the  names  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  church  and  Sunday-school,  the  Church  Manual, 
a  catalogue  of  the  Sunday-school  library,  the  programme 
of  exercises  of  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone,  copies  of  the 
"New  York  Observer,"  the  "  New  York  Evangelist,"  the 
"Yonkers  Gazette,"  and  the  "Yonkers  Statesman." 

The  church  is  built  of  gray  stone  and  has  a  spire  145 

*  Through  the  enterprise  of  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  photographs  of 
the  scene  of  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  this  building  were  taken  by 
H.  S.  Wyer,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  which  went  into  the  church  build- 
ing fund. 


270  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

feet  high.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building,  including  the 
furniture  and  the  plot  of  ground,  which  is  8i  by  125  feet, 
was  about  $35,000,  of  which  all  except  about  $5,000  was 
paid  during  Mr.  Dixon's  pastorate.  The  dimensions  with 
the  chapel  in  the  rear  are  62  by  107  feet.  The  auditorium 
is  built  in  amphitheatre  style  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
600.  It  has  five  aisles,  four  of  which  extend  the  length  of 
the  auditorium,  the  fifth  extending  half  way  up  the  centre 
of  the  church.  The  pews  and  pulpit  furniture  are  of  ash 
and  varnished  to  correspond  with  the  other  woodwork. 
A  door  at  either  side  of  the  pulpit  communicates  with  a 
small  vestibule  which  opens  into  the  chapel  in  the  rear  of 
the  church.  The  pastor's  study,  session  room,  and  library 
are  in  the  chapel.  There  are  eight  class-rooms  in  the 
chapel,  which  are  separated  from  the  main  room  by  sliding 
sash  windows.  The  kitchen  is  in  the  basement  of  the 
church.  The  architect  of  this  building  was  L.  B.  Valk,  of 
New  York.  The  stonework  was  done  by  George  Frazier, 
and  the  woodwork,  under  several  separate  contracts,  by 
A.  O.  Kirkwood  and  John  Brown. 

The  last  sermon  in  the  old  church  *  building  was  de^ 
livered  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Dixon,  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, July  17,  1 88 1. 

On  Sunday  morning,  July  24,  1881,  the  first  sermon 
was  preached  in  the  chapel  of  the  new  church  by  Rev. 
John  Dixon,  from  Matt  22  :  5. 

At  the  evening  service  a  number  of  the  resident  cler- 
gymen occupied  seats  on  the  platform.  The  opening  prayer 
was  offered  by  Rev.  H.  M.  Baird,  D.  D.,  and  addresses  were 
made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  Rev.  John  Reid,  Rev.  Dr.  De  Los 
Lull,  and  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison.  Singing,  and  the  bene- 
diction by  Rev.  John  Dixon,  closed  the  interesting  exercises. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  on  Monday  evening, 
October  23,  1882.  The  front  of  the  pulpit  and  the  altar- 
stand  were  profusely  decorated  with  flowers  artistically  ar- 
ranged. Seated  in  the  pulpit  were  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.  D., 
*  The  original  German  and  English  Testament  deposited  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Sawyer  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  old  church  building,  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  A.  O.  Kirkwood.  It  was  found  in  the  demolition  of  the 
church  building  at  the  erection  of  Dr.  Charles  A.  Miles'  house,  which  is 
located  on  the  site  of  the  old  church  building,  No.  72  Warburton  Avenue. 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  2']\ 

of  New  York,  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson  Phraner,  of  Sing  Sing,  Rev. 
Mr.  Birch,  of  New  York,  Rev.  Dr.  Niven,  of  Dobbs  Ferry, 
Rev.  H.  M.  Baird,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  Rev.  I.  S.  Davison, 
Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  Rev.  John  Reid,  Rev.  P.  R.  Hawx- 
hurst,  and  Rev.  John  Dixon.  A  quartette,  composed  of 
Miss  Josie  Sanders,  alto,  Mrs.  Johnson,  soprano,  J.  W.  Ho- 
worth,  tenor,  and  Walter  Thomas,  bass,  with  Miss  Sanders 
as  organist,  furnished  the  music. 

The  services  opened  with  a  brief  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Phraner,  which  was  followed  with  the  reading  of  a  portion 
of  Scripture  by  Rev,  C.  E.  Allison,  and  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Baird.  Previous  to  the  dedicatory  sermon,  which  was  de- 
livered by  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.  D.,  of  New  York,  Rev.  John 
Dixon  stated  that  the  present  cost  of  the  building  was 
$33,000,  of  which  $24,000  had  already  been  raised,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $9,000  to  be  paid.  He  said  that  to-night  he 
would  like  $1,000  from  his  people.  While  the  collection, 
which  amounted  to  upwards  of  $1,000  was  being  taken,  the 
choir  sang  "  Thine,  O  Lord,  is  the  Greatness." 

Dr.  Hall  then  delivered  the  dedicatory  sermon,  from 
the  text :  "  Yet  have  I  set  my  king  upon  my  holy  hill  of 
Zion."  Psa.  2:6.  It  was  an  able  effort.  Rev.  Dr.  Cole 
prayed,  the  choir  sang  again,  and  the  services  closed  with 
the  benediction  by  Rev.  Alexander  Scotland. 

The  church  held  a  sociable  in  the  chapel  on  Tuesday 
evening,  when  there  was  vocal  and  instrumental  music, 
readings,  and  brief  addresses  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cole  and  Rev. 
John  Dixon. 

The  next  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Charles  P. 
Fagnani,  a  graduate  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York. 

In  February,  1886,  Rev.  Mr.  Fagnani  began  to  fail  in 
health,  in  consequence  of  over-exertion  in  his  previous 
charge,  and  February  17  of  the  same  year  the  congregation 
granted  him  a  leave  of  absence  for  eight  months,  hoping 
for  his  complete  and  permanent  restoration  to  health  there- 
by. July  31,  1886,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Fagnani  sailed  for  Europe. 
At  a  farewell  meeting  previous,  his  congregation  presented 
him  with  a  purse  of  $300,  accompanied  with  expressions  of 
sincere  regret  at  his  departure  and  hopes  for  his  safe  re- 


2/2  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

turn.  During  his  absence  the  pulpit  was  supplied  for  a  few 
months  by  ministers  from  other  churches.  Rev.  Mr.  Fag- 
nani  resigned  his  pastorate  in  March,  1887. 

During  Mr.  Fagnani's  leave  of  absence  the  interior 
of  the  church  and  chapel  was  destroyed  by  an  accidental 
fire  which  occurred  on  Sunday  morning,  February  28,  1886, 
at  7:30  o'clock.  Through  the  efficient  efforts  of  the  fire  de- 
partment the  fire  was  entirely  subdued  by  ten  o'clock,  but 
the  beautiful  church  was  in  ruins  and  its  people  in  tears, 
pastorless  and  homeless.  Under  these  peculiarly  trying 
circumstances  they  did  not  lose  heart  or  hope,  but  through 
their  energetic  efforts,  even  while  the  church  was  burning, 
arrangements  were  made  for  an  evening  service  and  notice 
given  to  that  effect.  The  first  to  reach  the  scene  of  disaster 
among  the  Yonkers  pastors  was  Rev.  John  Reid,  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  who  offered  the  use  of  his 
church,  and  the  regular  evening  service  was  held  at  his 
special  request  in  that  church. 

At  the  close  of  the  evening  service  the  congregation 
joined  in  devotional  exercises,  which  were  characterized  by 
deep  feeling.  At  a  meeting  held  the  day  after,  the  follow- 
ing minutes  were  prepared,  which  were  adopted  and  sent  to 
the  various  churches  of  the  city  who  had  kindly  placed 
their  respective  places  of  worship  at  their  disposal : 

"In  the  providence  of  God  we  have  been  called  upon  to 
pass  through  deep  waters.  The  elements  have  destroyed 
our  house  of  worship  and  '  our  gates  are  burned  with  fire.' 
In  the  midst  of  our  sorrow  and  tears  our  Christian  brethren 
of  the  city  have  thrown  open  their  church  doors  to  us, 
and  have  pressed  upon  us  all  that  God  has  given  them,  and 
desire  that  we  should  work  and  worship  therein.  They 
have  withheld  nothing  from  us.  We  desire  to  assure  all 
those  who  have  so  kindly  visited  us  in  our  trouble  that  we 
appreciate  and  are  grateful  for  all  this  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness, and  we  know  that  it  is  the  expression  of  their  love  in 
Christ  for  us,  and  while  we  cannot  make  use  of  all  that  has 
been  offered,  our  hearts  are  full  and  we  treasure  this  kind- 
ness as  the  sure  proof  of  the  one  faith  and  one  Lord  which 
always  draw  brethren  together.  We  are  constrained  espe- 
cially to  thank  the  officers  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  273 

for  their  prompt  and  urgent  invitation,  placing  at  our 
disposal  their  church  edifice  for  our  use  for  worship, 
particularly  on  the  day  of  the  fire,  for  last  eyening,  and 
the  basement  for  the  storage  of  all  thkt  we  saved  from  the 
fire." 

At  the  same  meeting  resolutions  of  thanks  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  fire  department  and  the  police  department  for 
their  efficient  efforts  in  our  behalf  were  passed. 

The  following  minute  was  entered  upon  the  sessional 
records  and  a  copy  thereof  sent  to  Rev.  John  Reid,  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  as  expressive 
of  the  feeling  of  the  church  and  congregation  towards  him 
for  his  kindly  sympathy,  warm  interest  in,  and  personal 
service  to  the  church  during  the  time  they  were  without 
their  church  home  and  without  a  pastor : 

"  Happy  in  the  constant  enjoyment  of  the  new  relation 
consummated  between  the  pastor  and  the  people  of  West- 
minster Church,  the  memories  of  elders  and  people  alike 
revert  to  the  last  four  months  now  immediately  past,  and 
recall  the  leadings  of  our  Heavenly  Father  and  the  paths 
in  which  we  have  walked.  We  exercise  our  hearts  for  new 
work  with  the  recollection  of  the  loving  words  and  works 
of  those  who  have  shown  warmest  affection  for  and  interest 
in  us.  None  have  been  more  kind  and  loving  than  our 
brother,  Rev.  John  Reid,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  We  recall  his  interest  and  his  wise  counsel  in  the 
study,  the  prayer-meeting,  and  in  the  pulpit.  We  owe  to 
him  a  debt  of  love  we  cannot  hope  to  repay.  To  wish  him 
well  in  any  and  all  his  interests  seems  too  much  like  formal 
words  and  a  perfunctory  act.  We  assure  him  that  his  affec- 
tion has  not  been  sown  in  cold  hearts.  We  shall  not  forget 
the  close  Christian  fellowship  which  with  him  we  have  en- 
joyed, but  wish  it  may  grow  and  ripen  wath  years." 

The  Sunday  following  the  fire,  church  services  were 
held  in  the  hall  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  North  Broadway,  it  having  been  secured  until  the 
completion  of  the  reconstructed  church.  In  the  interim  the 
congregation  nobly  held  together  and  all  the  departments 
of  the  church  work  were  efficiently  and  successfully  car- 
ried on. 

Cliurch  and  Sunday-Bchool  Work.  1 8 


274  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  loss  on  the  church  was  $30,000,  and  the  insurance 
$3 1 ,000.  The  work  of  restoring  the  church  building  was 
begun  promptly  and  its  formal  rededication  took  place  on 
Thursday  evening,  November  4,  1886.  The  main  audience- 
room  was  crowded  and  many  were  turned  away,  being 
unable  to  get  in.  The  church  presented  a  brilliant  appear- 
ance, the  shining  of  the  gas  upon  the  handsome  stained- 
glass  windows  producing  a  charming  effect.  It  was  taste- 
fully adorned  with  flowers,  the  presentations  of  members 
of  the  Baptist,  Methodist^  and  other  churches. 

Seated  in  the  pulpit  were  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor,  of  the 
Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York,  Rev.  John  Dixon,  of 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  Prof.  H.  M.  Baird,  D.  D., 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison,  Prof.  I.  S.  Davison,  and  Rev.  Ed- 
ward C.  Moore,  temporary  pastor  of  the  church. 

The  services  commenced  with  a  voluntary  on  the 
organ,  played  by  George  Jardine,  after  which  a  doxology 
was  sung,  the  congregation  rising.  The  prayer  of  invoca- 
tion was  then  given  by  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon.  Rev.  Mr.  Allison 
read  the  fourth  chapter  of  St.  John.  An  eloquent  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor  from  these  words :  ^'  For 
where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  My  name, 
there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."     Matt.  18  :  20. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  read  the  hymn  "  I  Love  Thy  Church,  O 
God,"  after  singing  which,  the  congregation  remaining 
standing,  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  said,  "  In  the  providence  of  God, 
this  church  has  been  called  to  pass  through  deep  waters. 
The  long  and  trying  illness  to  which  its  pastor  was  sub- 
jected had  but  fairly  passed  when  the  church  was  in  ashes. 
The  hand  of  God  has  been  laid  on  heavy.  The  discipline 
of  God  has  been  for  the  development  of  our  powers  to  a  de- 
gree that  we  hitherto  were  not  aware  of.  God  has  gone 
before.  He  it  is  who  gives  the  hope  to  this  people  of  the 
restoration  of  its  pastor.  He  it  is  that  brings  them  both 
face  to  face  with  a  new  epoch.  God  goes  before  us.  The 
ark  of  God  goes  before  us.  The  goodness  of  the  Lord  is 
now  seen  and  this  people  gives  praise  and  thanksgiving  to 
God.  This  is  the  offering  of  this  church  unto  God.  Let  it 
be  the  beginning  of  the  renewal  of  their  service.  Let  them 
hereafter  give  to  Him  the  best  they  have,  to  His  honor  and 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  275 

glory."  Mr.  Moore  concluded  his  remarks  with  a  prayer  of 
consecration.  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon  followed  in  congratulatory 
remarks.  The  hymn,  "  The  Church's  One  Foundation,"  was 
sung,  after  which  Rev.  Mr.  Davidson  pronounced  the  bene- 
diction. 

The  reconstructed  edifice  was  formally  opened  for 
public  worship  on  the  first  Sunday  of  November,  1886.  In 
the  evening  a  special  communion  service  was  held. 

In  the  rebuilding  of  the  new  edifice  the  main  plan  of 
the  burned  structure  was  adhered  to.  But  the  additional 
improvements  were  many  and  important,  both  as  to  appear- 
ance and  convenience.  First  and  foremost  of  these  is  the 
organ,  which  was  built  by  George  Jardine,  of  New  York,  at 
a  cost  of  $3,500,  and  is  a  fine  piece  of  mechanism.  It  is 
placed  behind  the  pulpit  in  the  east  end  of  the  church, 
with  a  mechanical  connection  of  keyboard  which  is  placed 
in  the  centre  of  the  church,  thus  making  the  organist  and 
choir  a  part  of  the  congregation. 

The  next  important  improvement  is  the  new  gallery 
which  extends  around  three  sides  of  the  main  audience- 
room.  The  incline  is  moderate  and  the  pews  are  so  ar- 
ranged that  in  all  parts  of  the  gallery  the  sitter  directly 
faces  the  pulpit.  The  front  guard  is  low,  and  is  surmounted 
by  a  bronzed  galvanized  iron  rail. 

There  are  four  entrances  to  the  gallery — one  in  the 
north  and  one  in  the  south  tower,  and  one  leading  to  each 
of  the  staircases  into  the  lecture-room.  Its  seating  capacity 
is  two  hundred  and  fifty,  which  added  to  that  of  the  main 
auditorium  makes  the  entire  seating  capacity  of  the  church 
between  seven  and  eight  hundred. 

The  corrugated  iron  ceiling  is  thirty-eight  feet  above 
the  floor,  and  is  painted  a  turquoise  blue,  while  the  walls 
are  fawn-colored  and  trimmed  with  olive.  The  cellars 
were  excavated  and  laid  with  concrete,  and  everything 
in  the  way  of  protection  against  fire  was  seen  to. 

The  glass  of  the  handsome  windows  is  opalescent. 
There  are  three  principal  windows — one  in  the  front  facing 
Warburton  Avenue,  one  on  the  north  side  and  one  on  the 
south.  Over  each  of  these  three  windows  is  a  group  of 
smaller  windows  of  peculiar  shape. 


2/6  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  centre  of  the  group  on  Warburton  Avenue  contains 
a  dove,  that  on  the  south  side  of  the  church  a  cross  and 
crown,  and  that  on  the  north  side  an  open  Bible.  The 
principal  ornaments  of  each  of  the  large  windows  are  two 
vines  reaching  nearly  the  length  of  the  central  compart- 
ments. The  windows  were  built  by  Otto  C.  Falck,  of  New 
York. 

The  church  is  sixty-two  feet  square,  and  the  lecture- 
room  is  twenty-five  by  seventy-four,  with  extensions. 

The  pulpit  is  new  and  of  chaste  design.  It  is  built  of 
ash  and  cherry. 

The  auditorium  is  lighted  by  three  chandeliers  in  the 
ceiling.  The  large  one  in  the  centre  has  eighty  jets,  and 
the  two  smaller  ones  forty  jets  each.  The  jets  are  lighted 
by  electricity. 

In  the  chapel  but  few  changes  were  made,  a  fire-escape 
having  been  added  and  a  new  session-room.  The  edifice  is 
a  picturesque  one  ;  the  green  ivy  leaves  with  which  it  is  al- 
most covered  and  the  rough-hewn  stone  form  a  pleasing 
contrast. 

Charles  R.  Otis,  Norton  P.  Otis,  and  Ralph  E.  Prime 
constituted  the  building  committee  of  the  reconstructed 
edifice ;  and  Walter  Thomas,  Charles  R.  Otis,  and  Col. 
Womersley  the  furniture  committee.  S.  Francis  Quick  did 
the  carpenter  work. 

On  June  14,  1888,  a  Mendelssohn  concert  was  held  in 
the  church,  the  proceeds  of  which  were  appropriated  to  the 
liquidation  of  the  church  debt. 

The  late  pastor,  Rev.  Edward  C.  Moore,  came  as  a 
stated  supply  to  the  church  October,  1886.  May  5,  1887,  he 
received  a  unanimous  call  from  the  church  to  become  their 
pastor,  which  was  accepted,  and  the  installation  services 
were  held  in  the  church  on  Thursday  evening,  June  30, 
1887,  They  were  conducted  by  Rev.  William  Hart  Dexter, 
Moderator  of  the  Presbytery. 

The  sermon  was  delivered  by  Rev.  George  F.  Moore, 
brother  of  the  pastor,  professor  of  Oriental  languages  and 
Old  Testament  exegesis  in  Andover  Theological  Seminary. 
The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  by  his  father,  Rev.  Wm.  E. 
Moore,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Second  Church,  of  Columbus, 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


277 


Ohio.     Rev.  John  Dixon,  D.  D.,  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  deliv- 
ered the  charge  to  the  people.     The  services  throughout 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 


were  very  interesting  and  were  listened  to  by  a  very  large 
audience. 


278  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

Rev.  Edward  Caldwell  Moore  was  born  in  West  Ches- 
ter, Pa.,  September  i,  1857.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Wm.  E. 
Moore,  D.  D.,  and  grandson  of  the  Rev.  George  Foote,  D.  D. 
He  was  graduated  from  Marietta  College  in  1877,  ^^^  ^^- 
ceived  his  master's  degree  from  the  same  institution  in 
1880.  He  taught  Latin  and  Greek  in  the  Public  High 
School,  Columbus,  Ohio,  1877  to  1881,  studied  theology  in 
Union  Seminary,  New  York  city,  1881  to  1884,  was  gradua- 
ted as  fellow  of  the  seminary,  and  spent  the  next  two  years — 
1884  to  1886 — in  the  study  of  church  history  in  the  universi- 
ties of  Giessen,  Goettingen,  and  Berlin,  in  Germany.  On 
May  5,  1887,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  Westminster 
Church,  Yonkers. 

In  November,  1888,  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  received  a  call  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  Central  Congregational  Church  of 
Providence,  R.  I.  The  call  was  accepted  and  the  Westches- 
ter Presbytery  dissolved  the  pastoral  relations  December 
10,  1888,  to  take  effect  January  i,  1889.  Rev.  Mr.  Moore 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  as  pastor  of  the  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church,  December  30,  1888,  taking  his  text 
from  2  Corinthians  4:18. 

The  congregation  of  the  Westminster  Church  greatly 
regretted  Mr.  Moore's  departure,  and  the  best  wishes  of  his 
many  friends  in  Yonkers  followed  him  to  his  new  field  of 
labor. 

Rev.  Mr.  Moore's  pastorate  of  the  Westminster  Church 
was  richly  blessed,  and  under  his  care  and  leadership 
the  church  actively  and  efficiently  prosecuted  its  work. 
Three  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  on  the  debt  of  the 
church  property  of  $8,800,  which  was  incurred  in  the  recon- 
struction of  the  new  church  edifice,  was  paid  February, 
1888,  and  during  his  pastorate  of  but  two  years,  one  hun- 
dred and  four  persons  were  received  into  the  commun- 
ion of  the  church. 

Rev.  Zebulon  B.  Graves  was  temporary  pastor  of  this 
church  from  October  6,  1889  till  January  19,  1890.  A  unan^ 
imous  call  was  extended  by  the  church  on  September  10, 
1890,  to  Rev.  George  R.  Cutting,  of  Lake  Forest,  111.,  which 
was  accepted  September  24  of  the  same  year.  The  fol- 
lowing notice  of  the  pastor  elect  is  taken  from  the  "  Yon- 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  279 

kers  Gazette  "  of  October  4,  1890,  also  from  the  "  Waukegan 
(111.)  Gazette  "  of  September  27,  1890: 

"  The  pastor  elect  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Wal- 
tham  (Mass.)  High  School,  and  graduated  from  the  classical 
course  at  Amherst  College  with  high  honors.  Later  on  he 
took  a  theological  course  at  Auburn  Theological  Seminary. 
In  1887  he  was  called  as  principal  of  Lake  Forest  Academy, 
entering  the  faculty  of  Lake  Forest  (111.)  University  when 
William  C.  Roberts,  LL.  D.,  became  president  of  the  latter 
institution.  From  1888  to  1890  he  held  the  chair  of  ora- 
tory in  Lake  Forest  College.  In  this  line  of  effort  he  ex- 
cels, not  only  possessing  the  faculty  of  imparting  the  art  to 
others,  but  also  being  a  concrete  exemplar  of  modern  ora- 
tory. 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Cutting  is  a  man  of  diversified  gifts.  His 
executive  ability,  as  evinced  by  his  management  of  Lake 
Forest  Academy,  was  of  the  highest  order ;  his  qualities  as 
a  gentleman  of  society  are  specially  noticeable ;  he  pos- 
sesses a  temper  sunshiny,  kindly,  and  entertaining.  He 
was  widely  sought  after  in  and  about  Chicago,  as  a  pulpit 
supply,  and  he  has  occupied  the  leading  pulpits  thereabouts. 
He  is  not  less  favorably  known  in  the  churches  of  central 
New  York.  As  a  pastor  he  has  a  reputation  for  tact  and 
the  understanding  of  human  nature  that  makes  him  valu- 
able. During  his  short  sojourn  in  the  West  he  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  State  and  National  educational  inter- 
ests. He  was  president  of  the  Presbyterian  Ministers*  Asso- 
ciation of  Chicago,  an  influential  union  of  ninet)^  prominent 
clergymen  of  Chicago  and  its  vicinity. 

"  His  reason  for  leaving  the  college  professorship  was 
that  he  felt  specially  called  to  the  work  of  the  pastorate." 

The  installation  of  Rev.  George  R.  Cutting  as  pastor 
of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  took  place  on 
Thursday  evening,  November  6,  1890.  Rev.  John  H.  Tru- 
ssll,  of  Brewsters,  Moderator  of  the  Westchester  Presbytery, 
presided  and  propounded  the  constitutional  questions  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Theodore  L.  Cuyler,  of  Brooklyn,  preached  the  sermon  ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Reid  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  William  H.  Dexter,  of 
Thompsonville,  Conn.,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 


28o  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

A  reception  to  the  new  pastor  was  given  in  the  church 
the  following  evening. 

The  membership  of  the  church  at  this  writing,  May, 
1 89 1,  is  379,  as  shown  by  the  revised  membership  roll  in 
the  manual  issued  May,  1891. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  has  always 
taken  a  great  interest  in  missionary  work  and  continues  un- 
ceasingly to  do  so.  Sprung  itself  from  a  mission,  it  has 
been  ever  forward  in  good  works,  not  only  in  foreign  fields, 
but  here  at  home  as  well.  Its  third  pastor,  Rev.  L.  W. 
Mudge,  D.  D.,  was  for  years  the  pastor  of  the  city  for  those 
who  had  no  pastor,  or  were  of  no  church,  and  thus  it  be- 
came the  leader  of  the  churches  in  mission  work. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  the  church  secured  the  services 
of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Russell  (now  Mrs.  McKenzie)  as  Bible- 
reader.  Her  labors  in  connection  with  this  church  and 
the  community  were  abundantly  blessed.  Mrs.  Russell 
continued  in  the  service  of  the  church  for  several  years. 

Early  in  the  year  1868  Mrs.  Margaret  J.  Herron,  a 
teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  sister  of  J.  H.  Brown, 
left  with  her  husband,  Rev.  David  Herron,  for  their  mission 
field,  Dehra,  India.  A  farewell  missionary  meeting  was 
held  in  the  church  on  Thursday  evening,  January  2,  of  that 
year.  In  her  work  among  the  heathen  she  was  indefatiga- 
ble and  no  higher  human  compliment  could  be  passed  upon 
it  than  that  given  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Woodside.  In  his  address 
upon  "  Woman's  Work  in  India,"  before  the  Evangelical 
Alliance  in  New  York,  he  spoke  of  the  girls'  boarding-school 
in  Dehra  and  the  results  of  Mrs.  Herron's  work  as  the  no- 
blest specimen  of  what  woman  could  do  for  woman  in 
foreign  lands.  Mrs.  Herron  after  five  years  of  devoted 
service  died  at  her  post. 

The  Ladies'  Missionary  Association  of  this  church  has 
supported  a  Bible-reader,  Mrs.  Esteer  Hadad,  in  Abeiah, 
Syria,  for  thirteen  years,  since  its  organization,  January  10, 
1878,  and  continues  to  do  so  at  the  present  time.  The 
church  also  assumed  the  entire  support  of  Miss  S.  Bell 
Sherwood — a  niece  of  Elder  John  H.  Brown — for  a  number 
of  years.  Miss  Sherwood  was  appointed  missionary  to 
Hamadan,  Persia,  by  the  ladies'  Board  of  Missions  of  the 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  28 1 

Presbyterian  Church  in  1883,  and  sailed  for  her  mission 
field  September  26,  1883.  On  Sunday  evening-,  Septem- 
ber 15,  of  the  same  year,  a  deeply  interesting  farewell 
meeting  was  held  in  the  church. 

The  missionary  service  will  long  be  remembered  as 
one  of  peculiar  privilege  and  interest.  Miss  Sherwood,  now 
Mrs.  Hawks,  with  her  husband,  Rev.  James  Hawks,  is  still 
laboring  with  great  success  in  Hamadan,  the  place  where 
Queen  Esther  was  laid  to  rest. 

In  the  spring  of  1885  Miss  Georgiana  Hicks  began  her 
labors  as  missionary  visitor,  and  still  continues  an  earnest 
and  successful  worker  in  the  duties  of  that  position.  Rev. 
Mr.  Moore,  recent  pastor  of  this  church,  bears  grateful 
testimony  to  the  efficiency  and  usefulness  of  her  labors  in 
connection  with  his  pastorate. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  was  the  first 
to  begin  Christian  work  among  the  German  population  of 
Yonkers,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  formation  of 
the  First  German — now  the  German  Lutheran — Church  of 
this  city.  It  also  did  efficient  work  among  the  ccTlored 
people  of  the  city  in  the  year  1867. 

OFFICERS   WESTMINSTER   CHURCH. 
Elders.  Deacons. 

Ordained:  Ordained: 

May  12,  1867.  John  H.  Brown,  July  8,  1883.    Morton  W.  Newman. 

June  20,  18S0.  Charles  R.  Otis,  Oct.  25,  1891.  Wm.  P.  Constable. 

Sep.  30,  1883.  Wm.  McKim,  Clerk,  Oct.  25,  1891.  Charles  H.  Haight. 

Sep.  30,  1883.  J.  R.  McWilliam,  Treas.,  Oct.  25,  1891.  G.  A.  Englehardt.  Jr. 
Oct.  25,  1891.  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  Oct.  25,  1891.  William  Ewing. 
Oct.  25,  1891.  William  L.  Odell,  Oct.  25,  1891.  Thomas  L.  McKim. 

Oct.  25,  1891.  Arthur  S.  Machin, 
Oct.  25,  1891.  H.  Beattie  Brown,  M.  D. 

Trustees. 

Began  Service: 

1887.  F.  B.  Hickey,                          1866.  Charles  R.  Otis, 
1890.     R.  O.  Kirkwood.                     1877.  William  McKim, 
1884.     W.  H.  Scott,                            1886.  N.  A.  Wan-en,  M.  D., 

1888.  J.  J.  Littebrandt,  1882.  Norton  P.  Otis, 

1878.    Walter  Thomas. 

William  McKim,  President,  Walter  Thomas,  Secretary, 

Frank  B.  Hickey,  Treasurer. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  So- 


282  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ciety,  1 89 1,  are:  Mrs.  A.  O.  Kirk  wood,  President;  Mrs.  John 
H,  Brown,  First  Vice-President;  Mrs.  John  F.  Pierce, 
vSecond  Vice-President;  Miss  Josie  Sanders,  Treasurer; 
Mrs.  Edward  Clarke,  Secretary. 

Miss  Josie  Sanders,  as  organist,  served  the  church 
gratuitously  for  a  period  of  nineteen  years  and  a  half. 
Miss  Lizzie  Biggerstaff  is  the  present  organist.  The  con- 
gregational singing  is  led  by  Walter  Thomas,  with  a  vol- 
unteer choir  of  twenty  voices. 

The  ushers  are  William  P.  Constable,  James  Austin, 
Robert  O.  Kirkwood,  and  George  Engelhardt,  Jr. 

George  Fitzsimmons  served  as  sexton  from  June,  1886, 
until  1889,  prior  to  which  time  George  Ryder  was  the  sexton 
for  several  years.  The  present  sexton  is  Ambrose  S.  Havey, 
who  has  filled  the  position  efficiently  since  March  18,  1889. 

Mrs.  George  Ryder  presented  the  church  with  a  hand- 
some pulpit  Bible  in  January,  1872,  which  is  now  used  as 
the  chapel  Bible.  The  present  pulpit  Bible  was  presented 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Phraner — formerly  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
teriafi  Church  of  Sing  Sing — in  place  of  his  former  gift, 
destroyed  by  fire,  February  28,  1886.  On  its  cover  is  in- 
scribed :  "  Pulpit  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 
Yonkers." 

The  communion  service  was  presented  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  as  a  thank-offering,  July  28, 
1 88 1.  The  first  communion  service  was  presented  to  a 
Presbyterian  church  in  Colorado,  of  which  -Rev.  Alexander 
Scotland  was  the  pastor. 

The  baptismal  font,  which  is  of  gray  marble,  was  pre- 
sented by  Hon.  Norton  P.  Otis,  July  28,  1881,  and  has  in- 
scribed thereon  :  "  One  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism." 

The  floral  tables  for  the  pulpit  were  presented  by 
Edward  Newton  Brown. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  celebrated  in 
this  church  on  the  last  Sunday  morning  of  January,  March, 
May,  July,  September,  and  November. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

At  a  union  meeting  of  the  Baptist,  Methodist,  Presby- 
terian, and  Reformed  churches,  held  in  the  First  Methodist 


WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  283 

Church  in  the  spring  of  1855,  Richard  G.  Pardee,  agent  of 
the  New  York  Sunday-school  Union,  by  invitation  of  a  few 
gentlemen  connected  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
delivered  an  address  on  Sunday-school  work,  and  urged 
the  formation  of  a  mission  Sunday-school  in  Yonkers,  stat- 
ing that  there  were  at  that  time  at  least  700  children  who 
did  not  attend  Sunday-school.  The  result  of  this  meeting 
was  the  organization  of  a  Union  Sunday-school  Association 
in  the  month  of  May,  1855. 

At  one  of  the  monthly  meetings  of  this  association  it 
was  proposed  to  form  a  union  mission  Sunday-school.  In 
pursuance  of  this  decision,  on  September  16,  1855,  a  num- 
ber of  Sunday-school  teachers  met  at  School  No.  2,  on 
School  Street,  and  organized  the  School  Street  Mission  Sab- 
bath-school, appointing  Ebenezer  Curtice  Superintendent, 
and  John  Davidson  *  Assistant  Superintendent. 

On  the  following  Sunday  there  were  present  as  teach- 
ers, Josiah  Rich,f  John  Davidson,  John  Nairn,  James 
Montgomery,  Henry  A.  Underwood,  Mrs.  Emma  P.  Under- 

*  By  the  will  of  John  Davidson,  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
church,  who  died  in  the  city  of  New  York,  January  16,  1S84,  the  sum  of 
$1,000  was  left  to  the  Westminster  Church,  which  was  appropriated  to  the 
organ  fund  of  the  new  church.  An  extract  from  resolutions  offered  by  the 
session  of  the  Westminster  Church,  in  reference  to  Deacon  Davidson, 
deceased,  reads  :  "  Quiet,  unassuming,  and  gentle,  he  faithfully  discharged 
the  duties  and  met  the  responsibilities  that  came  to  him ;  his  life  was  pure, 
honorable,  and  devoted." 

t  Josiah  Rich,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Westminster  Church,  also  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  was  born  in  Cedar  Street,  New 
York  City,  February  4,  1809.  When  a  resident  of  that  city  he  was  elected 
to  several  important  public  offices.  He  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, in  1842  alderman  of  the  Seventh  Ward,  and  in  1844  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  mayor,  but  declined  to  accept.  He  was  recognized  as  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability  as  a  speaker,  and  a  ready  and  discriminating 
writer.  And  his  indorsement  of  an  applicant  for  a  State  office  under 
Governors  Marcy,  Brouck,  and  Wright  was  conceded  almost  equivalent  to 
an  appointment.  He  was  single  minded  and  sincere,  asking  nothing  for 
himself,  and  under  no  circumstances  or  pressure,  political  or  personal, 
would  he  commend  an  applicant  unless  he  was  satisfied  that  he  was  capa- 
ble and  worthy.  In  all  of  his  business  relations  he  won  an  envied  reputa- 
tion for  integrity  and  uprightness. 

April  30,  1850,  Mr.  Rich  came  to  reside  in  Yonkers  and  was  intimately 
associated  with  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  place,  being  ever  active  and 
efficient  in  every  movement  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  people  finan- 


284  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

wood,  Mrs.  James  Montgomery,  Mrs.  E.  Curtice,  and  Miss 
Carrie  Rich,  and  between  twenty  and  twenty-five  scholars. 
A  few  weeks  afterward  Archibald  Baxter,  William  Steed- 
man,  and  Duncan  C.  Ralston  were  added  to  the  list  of 
teachers.  James  Montgomery  was  among  the  first  schol- 
ars of  the  school,  being  present  with  his  father,  William 
Montgomery,  at  its  organization. 

Duncan  C.  Ralston  was  the  first  secretary  of  the  vSun- 
day-school,  and  subsequently  served  as  its  librarian  for 
eleven  years,  which  office  he  filled  with  great  acceptance. 

In  May,  1856,  the  average  attendance  of  the  school 
was  about  fifty  children,  when  Rollin  A.  Sawyer,  then  a 
member  of  the  middle  class  in  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York  City,  was  invited  to  act  as  missionary 
in  connection  with  the  school.  He  spent  vSaturday  after- 
noons in  visiting,  organized  a  young  men's  Bible-class,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  exercises  of  the  school  usually  addressed 
the  scholars.  The  result  of  Mr.  Sawyer's  Saturday  after- 
noon visits  among  the  parents  of  the  scholars  was  soon 
manifest  in  an  increased  interest  on  the  part  of  both  teach- 
ers and  scholars,  so  that  on  Christmas  of  1856  the  roll 
showed  150  scholars  and  twenty-five  teachers  connected 
with  the  school. 

The  school  continued  to  meet  in  the  district  school- 
dally  and  morally.  In  1854  he  was  prominent  in  founding  the  Yonkers 
Library  Association  and  became  its  first  president.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  ruling  elder  of  Westminster  Church,  January  2,  1859,  which  place 
he  held  until  September  25,  1884,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Broadway  Tabernacle  Church,  New  York,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor  is 
pastor. 

Mr.  Rich  was  kind  in  deportment  and  cheerful  in  temperament,  and 
his  consistent  Christian  example  rendered  his  residence  in  Yonkers  a 
continual  agency  for  good.  In  his  private  and  public  life  he  was  con- 
siderate and  unselfish,  generous  and  noble  hearted,  a  man  whose  friend- 
ship was  an  honor,  whose  companionship  was  always  an  enjoyment,  and 
there  are  not  a  few  who  will  cherish  his  name  in  loving  remembrance. 

On  the  evening  of  January  12,  1886,  he  joined  Baxter,  Davidson,  and 
Nairn,  the  departed  office-bearers  of  this  church,  who  with  the  "  elders 
round  about  the  throne"  sing  the  new  song:  "Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain  to  receive  power  and  riches  and  wisdom  and  strength  and 
honor  and  glory  and  blessing."  On  his  departure  the  session  of  West- 
minster Church  adopted  resolutions  expressive  of  their  loss,  which  were 
entered  upon  tiie  records  of  the  church. 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  285 

house  until  April  5,  1857,  when  it  was  removed  to  the 
Getty  Lyceum.  After  the  removal,  Archibald  Baxter, 
William  Steedman,  A.  O.  Kirkwood,  Mrs.  Duncan  C. 
Ralston,  Miss  Jennie  Underwood  (now  Mrs.  John  Mor- 
rison), Miss  Mary  Lapham  (now  Mrs.  M.  E.  Saunders), 
and  others  whose  names  cannot  now  be  recalled,  became 
teachers. 

On  Sunday  evening,  April  26,  1857,  preaching  was 
commenced,  the  Rev.  Victor  M.  Hulbert  (now  Rev.  Dr. 
Hulbert)  officiating.  The  attendance  w^as  about  fifty.  On 
the  1 8th  of  October  in  the  same  year,  upon  the  invitation 
of  the  teachers  and  the  advice  of  the  Presbytery,  Mr.  Saw- 
yer became  the  stated  supply  and  preached  regularly  each 
Sunday.  The  attendance  of  the  school  at  this  date  aver- 
aged 300  scholars. 

On  Thursday  evening,  July  16,  1857,  ^  weekly  prayer- 
meeting  was  begun  at  the  house  of  John  Fisher,  on  Brook 
Street,  twenty-seven  persons  being  present.  This  meeting 
was  attended  by  many  of  the  scholars  and  some  of  the 
teachers  of  the  school.  The  attendance  at  the  prayer- 
meeting  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  place  of  meeting 
was  changed  to  Grant's  Hall,  a  room  in  the  then  skin  fac- 
tory, near  the  corner  of  Mechanic  Street  (now  New  Main 
Street),  and  Nepperhan  Avenue.  The  attendance  at  this 
meeting  was  from  eighty  to  100  every  Thursday  evening. 
At  Christmas,  1857,  there  were  287  scholars  and  thirty- 
seven  teachers  present,  and  the  name  was  then  changed  to 
the  First  Mission  Sabbath-school,  Yonkers. 

In  April,  1859,"  the  Sunday-school  was  removed  from 
the  Getty  House  to  the  new  church  building,  or  chapel  as 

*  In  1859-60  a  Sunday-school  was  opened  by  William  F.  Lee,  who 
was  a  much  beloved  teacher  in  the  Westminster  Sunday-school,  and  who, 
after  his  removal  from  Yonkers,  became  the  president  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  in  New  York  City.  Tiiis  school  was  held  in  a  room 
in  the  nine  buildings  opposite  the  old  pistol  factory  near  Vark  Street. 
He  was  assisted  by  Messrs.  Charles  R.  Otis,  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  and 
Ebenezer  Curtice.  After  occupying  that  building  for  several  months  this 
school  was  removed  to  Teutonia  Hall,  near  Brook  Street.  Among  the 
interesting  and  profitable  exercises  of  this  little  school  was  the  singing 
of  Scriptural  verses  arranged  by  the  teachers.  It  numbered  about  fifty 
pupils  and  was  continued  a  little  over  a  year.  Mr.  Lee  passed  to  his 
heavenly  reward  in  1888. 


286  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

it  was  called,  on  Warburton  Avenue.  Archibald  Baxter 
was  the  superintendent  at  that  date.  The  school  continued 
to  increase  in  numbers  and  interest  and  quite  a  number 
from  it  were  added  to  the  church  on  profession  of  their 
faith. 

The  Sunday-school  in  the  years  of  1861-62  was  in  an 
unusually  prosperous  condition.  At  that  time  there  was  a 
large  number  of  adult  classes,  either  of  young  men  or 
young  ladies,  among  the  teachers  of  which  are  recalled 
Mrs.  E.  P.  Underwood,  Josiah  Rich,  James  E.  Goddard, 
Miss  Jennie  Underwood  (now  Mrs.  John  Morrison),  and 
Miss  Margaret  Bloomer,  the  latter  of  whom  had  a  class  of 
young  ladies.  Her  plain,  practical  instruction,  her  sound 
Scriptural  teachings,  having  a  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord  "  for 
every  statement,  is  well  remembered  by  the  writer,  who 
was  a  member  of  her  class.  Miss  Bloomer  subsequently 
became  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
was  largely  instrumental  in  the  formation  of  the  Ladies' 
Missionary  Society  of  that  church,  being  elected  its  first 
president. 

The  pastor's  wife,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Carter,  had  a  class  of 
young  ladies,  most  of  whom  were  her  former  pupils  in 
Public  School  No.  6,  of  which  she  was  the  first  lady  prin- 
cipal, in  1 861  (then  Miss  Alantha  P.  Pratt).  Mrs.  Carter's 
emphatic  teachings  in  regard  to  the  pleasantness  and  joy- 
ousness  of  the  Christian  life  are  well  remembered  by  the 
writer,  who  was  privileged  to  be  under  her  instruction. 
Mrs.  Carter  was  in  her  Christian  life  a  living  epistle  of 
the  reality  and  power  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  She 
always  let  her  light  shine,  and  never  from  any  motive  or 
any  reason  concealed  it.  She  was  eminently  successful  in 
winning  the  confidence  and  love  of  her  scholars.  Amid 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  incident  to  her  position  as 
principal  of  her  day-school  department,  she  ever  preserved 
a  calmness  which  was  unruffled,  and  possessed  a  peace  which 
was  undisturbed.  Her  calm  face,  both  in  the  Sunday  and 
day  school,  seemed  to  speak  the  words,  "  In  patience  pos- 
sess ye  your  souls,"  and  "  Thou  shalt  keep  him  in  perfect 
peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee." 

In  a  letter  received  from  her  occurs  this  paragraph : 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  287 

"  There  is  no  service  so  noble  as  the  service  of  our  Saviour, 
there  is  no  choice  so  blessed  as  the  Christian's  choice,  there 
is  no  hope  so  glorious  as  that  which  renders  bright  the 
darkest  day,  there  is  no  peace  so  abiding  as  that  which  God 
gives  his  loved  ones."  Her  utterances  in  the  weekly 
prayer-meeting,  which  she  formed  for  the  benefit  of  her 
Sunday-school  scholars  and  the  young  members  of  her 
husband's  congregation,  are  recalled  as  being  especially 
helpful,  encouraging,  and  comforting.  And  her  prayers, 
which  were  characterized  by  earnestness,  simplicity,  and 
directness,  showed  that  she  walked  in  intimate  communion 
with  her  Father  in  heaven.  And  her  sweet  voice,  as  she 
led  in  the  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  was  an  inspira- 
tion to  all  who  heard  it.  In  general  it  may  be  truly  said 
that  her  character  was  one  of  beauty  and  strength  most 
happily  blended,  most  remarkably  developed. 

She  ever  kept  her  eye  on  her  high  calling  and  ran  the 
race,  and  could  not  stop  to  walk  or  look  back.  Her  Lord 
gave  her  the  five  talents  and  she  did  not  hide  one  of  them. 
"And  so  he  that  had  received  five  talents  came  and  brought 
other  five  talents,  saying.  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto  me 
five  talents :  behold,  I  have  gained  beside  them  five  talents 
more.  His  Lord  said  unto  him,  Well  done,  thou  good  and 
faithful  servant :  thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things, 
I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things :  enter  thou  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  Those  words  of  welcome  came  to 
her  as  she  passed  from  her  earthly  life  from  the  manse  at 
Huntington,  L.  L,  October  7,  1874,  and  entered  the  heav- 
enly life  "  to  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord." 

The  pastor.  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter,  started  a  weekly 
Bible-class  of  young  ladies  in  April,  1865,  which  was  held 
at  his  residence  in  Glenwood  on  Friday  afternoons.  These 
gatherings  were  a  source  of  much  pleasure  and  profit  to  all 
who  attended.  The  pastor's  father,  Robert  Carter,  was 
occasionally  present,  and  added  a  few  words  of  counsel  and 
encouragement.  On  one  occasion,  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks  on  Bible  study,  he  said,  "Young  ladies,  you  have 
here  a  rich  mine ;  be  sure  you  get  all  the  ingots." 

Rev.  Mr.  Carter's  teaching,  as  was  his  preaching,  was 
characterized   by  great  simplicity  and   earnestness.     The 


288  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

constant  reiteration  of  proving  all  things  by  the  Word  of 
God  and  "  comparing  spiritual  things  with  spiritual,"  was  a 
marked  feature  of  his  instructions,  as  he  led  his  scholars  in 
the  study  of  the  Word,  "  bringing  things  new  and  old  " 
from  the  exhaustless  treasury  of  Scripture  knowledge,  ex- 
amining and  unfolding  each  verse  in  its  textual,  contextual, 
and  Scriptural  status,  first  getting  the  sense,  then  in  a  clear 
and  concise  manner  making  them  to  see  the  truth  with 
vividness  and  force,  so  that  they  left  the  class  each  week 
with  a  distinct  and  positive  addition  to  their  Scriptural 
knowledge,  thus  furnishing  them  with  strength  -  giving 
food,  so  that  they  were  prepared  and  the  better  fitted  to 
fulfil  their  mission.  The  members  of  the  class  were  devo- 
tedly attached  to  him  and  still  warmly  cherish  his  memory. 

Special  preparations  were  made  by  the  Sunday-school 
for  their  Christmas  festivals.  The  music  and  words  of  the 
carols  were  always  new,  being  composed  and  arranged  for 
several  years  by  musical  composers  in  New  York  city,  Mrs. 
M.  E.  Sangster  and  Miss  Fanny  Crosby,  the  blind  poetess, 
being  among  the  writers  of  the  words  of  the  carols  sung  on 
several  occasions.  The  refreshments  at  these  festivals  were 
given  in  abundant  measure.  The  fruit,  nuts,  and  cake  were 
entirely  supplied  for  the  whole  school  for  many  successive 
years  by  Josiah  Rich  and  John  Davidson. 

The  eleventh  Christmas  festival  was  held  in  the  assem- 
bly hall  of  School  No.  6  on  Christmas  day,  1866.  The  hall 
was  densely  crowded  by  the  friends  and  teachers  of  the 
school.  The  exercises  commenced  by  the  children — 481  in 
number — singing  a  very  pretty  hymn  entitled  "  Good  Will 
and  Peace  to  Men  "  written,  as  were  also  three  other  hymns 
for  this  meeting,  by  Miss  Fanny  Crosby.  After  the  sing- 
ing, the  pastor,  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter,  offered  prayer, 
which  was  followed  by  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and 
the  singing  of  another  carol. 

The  superintendent,  Henry  A.  Underwood,  read  his 
report,  which  reflected  great  credit  on  the  thirty-seven 
teachers,  who  were  most  efficient  and  faithful  in  their  work. 
A  very  pleasant  address  by  Robert  Carter,  father  of  the 
pastor,  followed.  Christmas  Carol  No.  4  was  sung.  A  brief 
address  was  made  by  the  pastor,  who  returned  his  thanks 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  289 

for  the  beautiful  presents  he  had  received  from  his  congre- 
gation. 

Then  came  the  distribution  of  the  gifts  to  the  scholars, 
who  each  received  a  handsome  book,  and  cake,  fruit,  and 
confectionery  in  abundance.  Edward  Fuller,  on  behalf  of 
the  school,  presented  the  superintendent  with  a  beautiful 
illustrated  copy  of  Bunyan's  "  Pilgrim's  Progress."  The 
musical  part  of  the  exercises  was  under  the  supervision  of 
William  B.  Taylor,  the  chorister  of  the  church.  These 
pleasant  exercises  closed  with  singing  and  the  benediction. 

The  following  statistics  of  the  Sunday-school  are  taken 
from  a  printed  annual  report  of  the  school  of  January, 
1867: 

"  The  superintendent's  report  (H.  A.  Underwood) 
shows  the  total  number  of  scholars  481.  Of  this  number 
263  meet  in  the  Westminster  Church,  and  the  remaining 
number — 218 — attend  the  infant-class  room  on  Broadway, 
between  Wells  Avenue  and  Dock  Street,  under  the  able 
and  very  efficient  management  of  Mrs.  E.  Curtice  and 
Mrs.  James  E.  Goddard.  The  number  of  teachers  and  offi- 
cers connected  with  the  school  at  this  date  is  thirty-seven, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  thirty.  The  average  attend- 
ance of  pupils  is  254." 

The  treasurer  reports  the  sum  of  $289  collected  for 
missionary  purposes,  and  $1,200  paid  for  the  expenses  of 
the  school  during  the  past  year.  The  library  contains  600 
volumes,  and  has,  under  the  care  of  the  librarian,  Duncan 
C.  Ralston,  attained  an  unusual  degree  of  perfection,  both 
in  the  condition  of  the  books  and  the  system  of  circula- 
tion. 

Henry  A.  Underwood,  to  whom  the  school  owes  much 
for  his  unceasing  labors  in  its  behalf,  was  unanimously  re- 
elected  Superintendent ;  for  Assistant  Superintendent  John 
^Morrison  was  also  reelected.  Edward  S.  vSumner  was  cho- 
sen vSecretary,  Robert  Reeves  was  elected  Librarian  in  place 
of  Duncan  C.  Ralston,  who  resigned,  and  George  A.  Arrow- 
smith,  Assistant  Librarian.  William  B.  Taylor,  under 
whose  management  the  singing  has  been  conducted  and 
which  has  attained  to  a  rare  degree  of  excellence,  continued 
to  lead  the  singing  for  the  coming  year. 

Sunday-Bchool  Work.  IQ 


290  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  church  building  is  no  longer  large  enough  to  ac- 
commodate the  increasing  number  of  scholars. 

The  report  of  the  superintendent,  H.  A.  Underwood, 
showed  the  following  statistics  of  the  school  Christmas, 
1867:  Number  of  teachers,  39  ;  number  of  pupils,  521  ;  40 
more  than  the  preceding  year. 

For  the  Christmas  festival  of  1869  four  of  the  carols 
were  composed  by  the  following  teachers  in  the  school, 
Mrs.  E.  Curtice,  Miss  M.  Mason,  Miss  Anna  W.  Kirkwood, 
and  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge,  the  latter  of  whom  arranged 
the  music  for  that  and  for  other  festivals  and  anniversaries 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge,  immediately  on  assuming  the 
pastorate  of  the  church  in  August,  1867,  established  a 
young  men's  Bible-class.  With  the  growth  of  the  school 
young  women  were  admitted,  and  it  was  taken  to  the  gal- 
lery in  the  old  church.  The  membership  of  this  class  at 
one  time  was  forty-four.  Mr.  Mudge  retained  the, class  some 
months  after  he  was  made  superintendent,  in  December, 
1868,  at  a  meeting  of  the  teachers,  and  by  the  advice  of  the 
session  of  the  church  remained  both  teacher  and  superin- 
tendent until  May,  1877,  when  he  received  a  call  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Princeton,  N.  J.,  which  he 
accepted. 

Before  the  advent  of  lesson-leaves  Mr.  Mudge  prepared 
regularly  a  series  of  questions  on  the  "  History  of  Israel 
from  the  Birth  of  Moses  to  the  Settlement  in  Canaan." 
These  lessons  were  printed  and  ran  through  two  years,  be- 
ginning in  1868.  They  were  finely  illustrated  by  large  col- 
ored crayon  pictures,  which  were  drawn  by  Joseph  M. 
Alvord  with  truly  artistic  skill.  The  pictures  in  size  and 
finish  were  similar  to  the  "  Bible  Lesson  Pictures  "  which 
were  extensively  used  and  are  so  popular  in  the  primary 
department  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  to-day.  Mr.  Alvord, 
by  these  pictures,  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  school, 
as  he  also  did  in  his  efficient  work  as  secretary. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mudge  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
Superintendents'  Normal  Class  in  New  York,  in  February, 
1876.  His  resignation  of  the  superintendency,  consequent 
upon  his  call  to  Princeton,  was  a  matter  of  "  sincere  regret 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  29I 

not  only  to  the  church  but  to  the  Sunday-school  which  he 
had  so  lovingly  and  faithfully  served  as  their  superintend- 
ent during  the  greater  part  of  his  ministry,  and  to  every 
member  of  which  he  had  endeared  himself  by  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart  rare  and  shining." 

Anson  D.  F.  Randolph  succeeded  Mr.  kludge  as  teach- 
er of  the  large  Bible-class  in  the  gallery  in  1872,  and  re- 
tained it  until  his  removal  from  Yonkers.  He  prepared  a 
series  of  lessons,  especially  for  this  class,  on  the  English 
Bible,  which  were  of  exceeding  interest  and  were  greatly 
enjoyed  by  the  members  of  the  class.  His  genial  and  lov- 
ing disposition,  his  intense  earnestness,  and  his  fidelity  to 
the  work  set  before  him,  made  him  eminently  successful  in 
winning  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the  members  of  his 
class. 

The  following  incident  referring  to  this  esteemed 
teacher  is  taken  from  an  article  entitled  "  Sunday-school 
Work  a  means  of  Culture,"  in  the  "Evangelist,"  May  i, 
1879,  under  the  signature  of  A.  W.  Kirkwood  :  "Two  old 
schoolmates,  middle-aged  men,  met  upon  an  anniversary  oc- 
casion of  a  charitable  institution.  Full  of  interest  in  his 
subject  and  in  sympathy  with  the  work,  one  of  them  made 
an  address,  finished,  eloquent,  and  effective.  The  friend 
listened  with  pleasure  and  surprise,  and  at  its  close  said, 
'  A ,  I  did  not  know  you  could  make  such  a  good  speech.' 

"  '  Do  you  know  why  I  can  make  a  speech  and  you 
can't  ?  Because  I  stayed  in  the  Sunday-school  and  you 
cleared  out.' 

"  The  rejoinder,  though  uttered  in  a  joke  as  the  two 
friends  grasped  hands  warmly,  contained  more  than  a  grain 
of  sense. 

"  One  cannot  handle  year  after  year  the  grand  and 
wonderful  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  become  familiar  with  its 
glowing  imagery  and  its  simple  and  beautiful  stories,  with- 
out a  widening  and  growing  development  of  mind  which 
will  naturally  brighten  and  beautify  one's  style  and  give 
ease  and  grace  in  discourse  upon  all  other  subjects  and 
questions. 

"  As  a  student  with  no  particular  sense  of  responsibil- 
ity, one  is  often  dull  to  learn  and  slow  to  grasp  even  the 


292  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

outline  of  a  subject,  but  in  the  effort  to  make  another  see 
clearly  one's  own  ideas  become  better  defined. 

'  Thoughts  disentangle  passing  o'er  the  lip.' 

In  seeking  to  unfold  a  subject  in  its  length  and  breadth, 
and  to  bring  out  its  important  points,  one's  mind  becomes, 
gradually  it  may  be,  but  surely,  a  well-ordered  storehouse 
instead  of  a  heterogeneous  mass  of  rubbish." 

John  H.  Brown  also  had  a  large  and  interesting  class  of 
young  ladies  at  this  time,  numbering  over  twenty. 

Rev.  Mr.  Mudge,  in  his  historical  discourse  of  the 
Westminster  Church,  delivered  in  the  centennial  year,  1876, 
mentions  the  Sunday-school  as  follows  : 

"  As  this  church  grew  from  this  most  useful  church 
ao-ency,  so  it  has  always  commanded  its  special  attention, 
and  in  turn  has  constantly  received  from  it  large  accessions. 
The  school  has  always  been  large  for  the  church  and  com- 
munity. Its  most  prosperous  years,  judging  by  statistics, 
were  the  four  years  from  1868  to  1 871,  in  each  of  which  the 
aggregate  of  teachers  and  scholars  was  over  500.  In  1869 
the  report  records  528,  and  one  Sunday  in  that  year  498 
scholars  and  teachers  were  present.  These  years  are  the 
second  to  fifth  of  the  present  pastorate.  Since  1871  the 
school  has  gradually  declined  in  numbers,  owing  mainly  to 
the  establishment  of  new  schools— there  having  been  no 
less  than  five  new  enterprises  started  since  that  year  in  the 
district  from  which  our  scholars  have  largely  been  gath- 
ered. During  the  prosperous  years  we  had  also  the  con- 
stant and  efficient  efforts  of  a  Bible-reader.  The  last  report 
of  the  school  gives  the  number  enrolled  for  the   year  at 

399-" 

The  membership  of  the  Sunday-school  has  increased 
since  the  above  mentioned  report  in  July,  1876,  as  is  shown 
by  the  following  figures  taken  from  the  statistical  report 
presented  by  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  to  the 
Westchester  Presbytery  for  the  year  ending  April,  1884: 
1864,  310;  1865,  325;  1866,  300;  1867,481;  1868,  521;  1869, 
528;  1870,512;  1871,501;  1872,498;  1873,490;  1874,489; 
1875,450;  1876,389;  1877,393;  1878,345;  1879,381;  1880, 
474;  1881,390;  1882,417;  1883,509;   1884,508. 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  293 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  printed  report  of  the 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  April  i ,  1 876 : 

"  The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Sunday-school  in  Yon- 
kers  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  and  ably  conducted  Sun- 
day-schools of  that  cit}^.  The  attendance  is  uniformly  large 
and  the  children  pay  the  closest  attention  to  the  explana- 
tions of  the  lessons  given  by  their  teachers. 

"  The  following  statistical  information  speaks  for  itself 
and  reflects  great  credit  on  its  superintendent,  Rev.  L.  W. 
Mudge,  who  is  devoted  to  his  charge  and  never  so  happy  as 
when  doing  something  for  the  children,  and  upon  the  devo- 
ted band  of  teachers  who  take  so  much  pleasure  in  leading 
the  children  to  Him  who  said,  '  Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me.' 

"The  report  is  as  follows:  Officers,  6;  teachers,  31; 
scholars  on  register,  399  ;  number  in  infant  class,  73  ;  uni- 
ted with  the  church,  6 ;  volumes  in  library,  800  ;  receipts, 
$240  53;  expenditures,  $133  50. 

"  The  officers  of  the  school  are  :  Rev.  L.  W.  Mudge,  Su- 
perintendent ;  John  H.  Brown,  Assistant  Superintendent ; 
Miss  Josie  Sanders,  infant  class  Superintendent ;  J.  J.  Beck, 
Secretary ;  John  Hargraves,  Treasurer ;  Edward  Newton 
Brown,  Librarian  ;  William  P.  Constable,  Assistant  Libra- 
rian. The  teachers  are :  Miss  L.  M,  Fuller,  Mrs.  O.  A. 
Benedict,  Miss  Jennie  Scotland,  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirkwood, 
Miss  Augusta  Cruikshank,  Miss  Anna  W.  Kirkwood,  Miss 
Grace  Randolph,  Miss  Louise  J.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Brown,  Miss  May  Williams,  Mrs.  Frederick  Lorenz,  Miss 
Sarah  Kennedy,  Miss  Amelia  Cutbill,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Houston, 
Mrs.  E.  Johnson,  Rev.  L.  W.  Mudge,  Messrs.  A.  D.  F.  Ran- 
dolph, John  H.  Brown,  Ralph  E.  Prime,  Charles  R.  Otis, 
Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  Josiah  Rich,  William  R.  Kirkwood, 
Alanson  J.  Prime,  James  Biggerstaff,  Augustus  Cruikshank, 
J.  M.  Alvord,  O.  A.  Benedict,  and  A.  Taylor." 

The  Young  People's  Association  for  Christian  Work, 
connected  with  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  and 
Sunday-school,  was  regularly  organized  in  1867  by  Rev. 
Lewis  W.  Mudge,  the  second  pastor  of  the  church.  A  few 
months  previous  to  the  above  mentioned  date  the  young 
men  of  the  church  were  accustomed  to  meet  irregularly  in 


294  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  gallery  of  the  church.  In  June,  1867,  the  young  people 
of  the  church,  including  young  men  and  women,  were  or- 
ganized into  a  society  with  the  above  name.  Rev.  Mr. 
Mudge  took  a  very  deep  interest  in  its  'welfare,  and  was 
most  efficient  and  successful  in  advancing  its  interests  in 
every  department.  At  the  close  of  1 867  the  Association  had 
a  membership  of  112. 

In  December,  1886,  and  following  the  Week  of  Prayer 
in  January,  1887,  the  church  and  Sunday-school  were  richly 
blessed  in  "  the  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the 
Most  High,"  and  the  longings  and  prayers  for  the  salvation 
of  souls  by  the  members  of  the  Association  found  practical 
expression  and  personal  work,  and  not  a  few  from  the  Sun- 
day-school were  through  their  instrumentality  brought  into 
the  church. 

In  June,  1868,  the  Association  met  with  a  severe  blow 
in  the  sudden  removal  of  one  of  its  chief  pillars  of  strength, 
George  A.  Arrowsmith,  a  noble,  true,  and  earnest  Christian 
young  man,  who  had  not  only  endeared  himself  to  the 
members  of  the  Association,  but  to  all  who  knew  him.  His 
funeral  services  were  held  at  the  church  and  were  largely 
attended  by  the  members  thereof,  and  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  Association,  the  pastor,  Rev.  L.  W.  Mudge,  officiating. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Young  People's  Association  of  the 
Westminster  Church,  held  Tuesday  evening,  June  30,  1868, 
the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  passed : 

Whe7'eas,  God  in  his  all-wise  providence  has  seen  fit  to 
remove  from  our  number,  by  death,  our  esteemed  brother 
member,  George  A.  Arrowsmith  : 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  feel  our  loss,  as  well  from  our 
love  for  him  as  that  by  his  decease  our  society  is  deprived 
of  one  of  its  most  valuable  members,  whose  counsel  and  ac- 
tive interest  it  has  enjoyed  since  its  organization. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  sincerely  sympathize  with  his  be- 
reaved parents  in  their  great  loss,  and  heartily  rejoice  that 
notwithstanding  the  deep  affliction  they  have  experienced 
in  his  loss,  they  have  the  assurance  that  he  was  a  servant  of 
God  and  that  he  has  been  delivered  from  the  evils  of  this 
world  to  enjoy  henceforth  the  blessedness  of  the  redeemed 
in  heaven. 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  295 

Resolved,  That  in  the  sudden  and  unexpected  death  of 
our  brother  we  feel  the  solemn  warning,  "  Be  ye  also  ready, 
for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  Son  of  Man  cometh," 
come  to  us  with  renewed  earnestness,  and  we  trust  it  will 
not  be  unheeded  ;  so  that  our  ranks,  though  they  are  broken 
here,  it  will  only  be  that  in  the  world  to  come  we  may  unite 
in  bonds  that  can  never  be  sundered. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the 
family  of  the  deceased,  published  in  the  local  papers,  and 
entered  upon  the  permanent  records  of  the  Association. 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Managers, 

E.  S.  Sumner,  President. 

Walter  H.  Underwood,  Secretary. 

The  twenty-first  anniversary  of  the  Association  was  held 
June  5,  1888,  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  church.  Frank  B. 
Hickey,  President,  presided.  The  exercises  were  opened 
by  singing,  after  which  the  Scriptures  were  read  by  Frank 
J.  Esser,  of  the  Baptist  Young  People's  Association,  fol- 
lowed by  prayer  by  William  Smith,  of  the  Dayspring 
Association,  and  singing  by  a  double  quartette  com- 
posed of  Messrs.  Thomas,  NicoU,  Howorth,  and  Craft,  and 
Mrs.  John  A.  Dow,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Goodale,  Miss  Josie  Sanders, 
and  Miss  Minnie  Mott.  The  reports  of  the  committees  fol- 
lowed. 

After  the  reports  of  the  committees,  the  President, 
Frank  B.  Hickey,  addressed  the  Association,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  pleasing  and  encouraging  address  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Prime,  his  subject  being  "  Desire." 

The  interesting  exercises  closed  by  the  quartette  sing- 
ing, "  The  King  of  Love  my  Shepherd  is." 

The  officers  of  the  association  in  1888  were  Frank  B. 
Hickey,  President ;  Walter  Thomas,  Vice-President ;  Rob- 
ert Ogilvie  Kirkwood,  Recording  Secretary ;  Walter  Tal- 
madge.  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Miss  Agnes  McMahon, 
Treasurer. 

The  Association  celebrated  its  twenty-third  anniversary 
on  Tuesday  evening,  June  3,  1890.  The  pulpit  was  taste- 
fully decorated  with  daisies,  ferns,  and  other  wild  flowers. 
In  front  of  the  desk  was  a  beautiful  pillar  of  daisies  and 
ferns.     Over  the  pulpit  were  the  figures  1 867 — the  year  in 


296  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK, 

which  the  Association  was  organized.  Robert  O.  Kirkwood, 
the  President,  presided. 

The  services  were  opened  by  the  singing  of  the  hymn, 
"  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,"  after  which  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison, 
of  Dayspring  Church,  offered  prayer.  The  President  then 
read  the  103d  Psalm. 

The  various  committees  presented  their  reports,  which 
show  very  gratifying  results  during  the  past  year. 

The  Lookout  Committee,  the  Visiting  Committee, 
the  Religious  Work  Committee,  the  Social  Committee,  and 
the  Missionary  Committee  are  the  several  committees  of 
the  Society. 

The  chairman  of  the  Lookout  Committee  reported  36 
new  members  had  joined  the  Association,  16  active  and 
20  associate. 

The  Missionary  Committee — Mrs.  William  P.  Con- 
stable, Chairman — had  furnished  four  speakers  on  mis- 
sions, and  the  sum  of  $106  06  had  been  given  for  mission 
work. 

William  P.  Constable,  the  Secretary,  reported  that  47 
prayer-meetings  were  held,  with  a  total  attendance  of  4,335  ; 
average,  85  ;  the  attendance  during  the  last  five  months 
will  average  over  100.  The  report  of  the  Treasurer,  Miss 
Ida  Bell,  showed  a  balance  on  hand,  June  4,  1889,  of  $10  90; 
dues,  $47  90;  disbursements,  $47  75  ;  balance,  June  3,  1890, 
$11  05. 

The  President,  Robert  O.  Kirkwood,  reviewed  the 
work  of  the  year,  and  congratulated  the  Association  on  the 
result  of  its  labors,  after  which  he  introduced  Rev.  Dr. 
L.  W.  Mudge  as  the  founder  of  the  Association.  Dr. 
Mudge  said  in  part : 

"  I  take  no  honor  to  myself  for  the  founding  of  this 
Association  ;  it  was  through  no  wisdom  or  sagacity  on  my 
part  that  it  was  formed.  It  was  born  during  a  revival ;  it 
was  a  necessity.  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention.  It 
was  from  the  Philadelphian  Society  of  Princeton  that  I 
first  conceived  the  idea  of  this  Society.  While  I  do  not 
claim  that  this  was  the  first  Young  People's  Association  in 
the  country,  I  think  it  is  the  oldest  organization  of  its  kind 
in  the  United  States. 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  297 

"Societies  of  young  people  were,  no  doubt,  in  existence 
for  purely  social  objects.  Other  societies  were  formed  for 
occasional  prayer-meetings,  but  this  Association  was  the 
first  permanent  one  of  which  I  have  any  knowledge.  On 
February  4,  1868,  a  number  of  the  young  people  of  this 
church  met  and  organized  into  a  permanent  organization, 
although  the  Association  was  really  in  existence  for  one 
year  previous ;  and  you  have  continued  to  grow  and  now 
you  are  celebrating  the  twenty-third  anniversary. 

"  Remember  what  Paul  said  to  Timothy :  '  Let  no  man 
despise  thy  youth.'  The  hope  of  the  church  is  in  its 
young  people.  Consecrated  youth  has  alwaj^s  been  in 
favor  with  God.  From  the  time  of  Paul  down  to  the  pres- 
ent day  consecrated  youth  has  taken  an  important  part  in 
the  work  of  the  church.  The  reports  of  the  last  year  are 
the  best  I  have  heard  from  your  Association  for  any  year 
previous.  May  God's  blessing  rest  upon  your  work  in  the 
future." 

Rev.  P.  S.  Allen,  of  Saratoga,  followed  with  a  short 
address,  complimenting  the  young  people  of  Westminster 
Church  on  being  among  the  pioneers  in  such  organizations, 
and  expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  work  of  Young  Peo- 
ple's Associations  and  Societies  of  Christian  Endeavor 
throughout  the  world. 

The  hymn  beginning  "  Now  the  day  is  over "  was 
sung,  and  Dr.  Mudge  pronounced  the  benediction. 

A  weekly  prayer-meeting  of  the  Association  is  held 
every  Tuesday  evening  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  church 
at  8  o'clock,  and  once  in  three  months  the  meeting  is  de- 
voted to  the  subject  of  missions  and  missionary  work. 
Usually  the  meeting  is  addressed  by  those  who  are  en- 
gaged in  mission  work,  and  not  unfrequently  the  presence 
of  a  missionary,  either  from  the  home  or  foreign  field,  is 
secured. 

The  Association  at  this  writing,  November,  1890, 
maintains  the  largest  young  people's  prayer-meeting.  Its 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Officers  of  the  Young  People's  Society  for  1891  :  Presi- 
dent, Louis  W.  Archer;  Vice-President,  William  P.  Hickey ; 
Secretary,  Allan  S.  Kirkwoodj  Treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mc- 


2g8  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

William.  Chairmen  of  Committees :  Lookout,  Frank  B. 
Hickey ;  Devotional,  James  H.  Jackson ;  Visiting,  Miss 
Ida  Jewell ;  Missionary,  Mrs.  Edward  Clark ;  Social,  Mrs. 
Walter  Thomas.  The  officers  and  chairmen  constitute  the 
Board  of  Managers. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  Sunday-school  was 
held  in  the  old  church  building  on  September  i6,  1880. 
Rev.  John  Dixon,  the  pastor,  conducted  the  exercises.  A 
number  of  papers  recalling  early  incidents  of  the  school 
were  read.  Those  who  took  part  in  the  exercises  were 
Mr.  Archibald  Baxter,  a  former  superintendent  of  the 
school,  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  and  others  whose  names 
cannot  now  be  recalled. 

The  mission  band  connected  with  the  Westminster 
Church  and  Sunday-school  was  organized  by  Miss  Agnes 
E.  Kirkwood.  A  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting 
the  organization  was  held  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  No- 
vember 16,  1 88 1,  in  the  chapel  of  the  church,  under  the 
conduct  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Dixon.  Charles  R.  Otis, 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  Mrs.  Stanton  Cady, 
of  Sing  Sing,  and  Mrs.  E.  Curtice,  of  Yonkers,  took  part. 
A  letter  was  read  from  Mrs.  A.  F.  Decker,  of  the  War- 
burton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  who  was  expected  to  have 
addressed  the  meeting,  expressing  her  regret  for  her  ab- 
sence on  account  of  illness,  and  of  her  warm  interest  and 
sympathy  in  the  object  of  the  meeting. 

The  officers  and  committees,  which  had  previously 
been  chosen,  were :  Miss  Agnes  E.  Kirkwood,  President; 
Miss  May  Alvord,  Vice-President;  Robert  O.  Kirkwood, 
Secretary ;  Kate  Prime,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Edith 
Beck,  Treasurer ;  Lizzie  Hoar,  Alice  Christie,  May  Bigger- 
staff,  Alice  Smith,  Earl  Prime,  and  William  C.  Prime, 
Chairmen  of  Committees. 

Meetings  of  the  band  were  held  monthly  in  the 
chapel  of  the  church,  and  the  earnest  desire  and  effort  of 
the  officers  was  not  so  much  to  raise  a  large  amount  of 
money,  but  to  endeavor  to  interest  and  inform  the  chil- 
dren in  the  progress  of  missions  at  home  and  abroad,  to 
advise  them  of  the  work  which  was  being  done  by  the 
mission  Boards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  of  the  state 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  299 

of  the  treasury  of  these  Boards,  and  to  train  them  to  give 
intelligently  and  in  effective  methods  of  carrying  on  mis- 
sion work. 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  band  was  held  in  the 
chapel,  November  13,  1882.  Letters  of  congratulation  to 
the  band  were  read  from  the  former  pastors  of  the  church, 
viz.,  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter,  Rev.  Dr.  Sawyer,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Mudge. 

The  secretary's  report,  by  Robert  O.  Kirkwood,  and  the 
treasurer's  report,  by  Miss  May  Alvord,  were  read.  The 
treasurer  reported  receipts  of  $25  50;  expenditures,  $25. 

Recitations  followed  by  Miss  Emma  Hoar,  Miss  Em- 
ma Menzer,  Harold  Thomas,  and  Fred  Coon,  a  recent 
Chinese  convert,  and  singing  of  missionary  hymns,  and 
benediction  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Dixon. 

The  second  anniversary  was  held  in  the  chapel  on 
Tuesday  afternoon,  November  13,  1883,  when  they  were 
entertained  by  the  Rev.  John  Dixon,  the  pastor,  Mrs.  New- 
ton, a  returned  missionary  from  India,  Myron  T.  Scudder, 
and  others. 

The  band  sent  a  beautiful  Scripture  quilt  to  a  Bible- 
reader  in  India  who  is  supported  by  the  Ladies'  Missionary 
Association  of  the  church.  Upon  this  quilt  were  written 
the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  band  and  the  Scripture 
text,  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only-begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life,"  John  3:  16;  also  the  names  of 
the  former  pastors  of  the  church  and  their  wives,  with  the 
text,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature,"  Mark  16:  15  ;  also  the  names  of  the  officers 
of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society  of  the  church  and  the 
names  of  the  officers  of  the  Sunday-school,  with  Scripture 
texts. 

The  amount  raised  by  the  band  during  the  year  was 
$28  50.  They  had  also  sent  leaflets  and  papers  to  an 
Indian  mission  in  the  western  part  of  New  York  State. 
The  membership  of  the  band  was  then  sixty.  The  ages  of 
the  boys  and  girls  who  composed  it  were  from  three  to 
twelve.  The  pastor's  little  daughter,  Marion  Dixon,  three 
years  old,  was  the  youngest  member. 


300  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

After  the  president's  resignation  in  November,  1883, 
the  attendance  was  quite  irregular,  and  it  was  disbanded 
for  several  months.  It  was  reorganized  by  Mrs.  Ebenezer 
Curtice,  October,  1886,  who  was  assisted  by  Miss  Josie  San- 
ders, and  they  had  the  charge  of  it  until  March,  1887,  when 
these  officers  were  elected  :  Miss  G.  Hicks,  President ;  Miss 
E.  L.  Smith,  first  Vice-President ;  Miss  Eva  Mackrell,  sec- 
ond Vice-President;  Miss  G.  Stone,  Secretary;  Miss  E. 
Hoar,  Treasurer. 

Meetings  were  held  every  week  on  Tuesday  after- 
noons until  June.  The  exercises  at  these  meetings  con- 
sisted of  singing,  repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  concert, 
and  a  missionary  story  on  the  country  assigned  for  the 
month.  The  children  worked  also  for  a  fair  which  was 
held  on  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  June  7,  1887.  The 
proceeds  of  this  fair  were  $46,  $36  of  which  was  donated  to 
the  building  of  a  new  schoolhouse  for  Miss  Allison  in 
Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  and  $10  to  local  work.  The  aver- 
age attendance  at  this  date  was  fifty  and  the  enrol- 
ment 141. 

In  January,  1888,  mite  boxes  were  given  to  the  band 
with  the  request  that  all  the  money  which  they  earned 
which  they  wished  to  give  for  mission  purposes  be  put  in 
them.     The  sum  of  $8  50  was  realized  by  this  plan. 

In  March,  1888,  an  entertainment  was  given  by  the 
band  called  "  Little  Missionaries,"  which  was  a  great  suc- 
cess in  every  way.  Charles  R.  Otis  presided.  Miss  Lizzie 
Biggerstaff  was  the  organist,  and  the  pastor.  Rev.  E.  C. 
Moore,  Adelaide  Nichols,  Sarah  Fleming,  Emily  Kipp, 
Minna  Smith,  Harold  Thomas,  Harold  Danforth,  Grace 
Chapman,  Nettie  Logan,  Emma  Carson,  Howard  Austin, 
John  Fleming,  and  others  took  part.  The  proceeds  of  this 
entertainment  were  $150,  which  was  donated  to  the  follow- 
ing objects :  $50  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  and  $50 
to  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  $50  to  Miss  Allison,  in  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 

The  officers  at  the  time  were :  Miss  Georgiana  Hicks, 
President ;  Miss  Adelia  Nichols,  Vice-President ;  Miss  Em- 
ma Hoar,  Secretary ;  Miss  Ida  Jewell,  Treasurer.  And 
their  assistants  were  Miss  Josie  Sanders,  Miss  Davidson, 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  301 

Miss  Eva  Mackrell,  Miss  Susie  Biggerstaff,  Mrs.  Frank 
Hickey,  and  Miss  Nettie  Moir.     The  membership  was  145. 

The  present  work  of  the  band  is  the  preparing  of  a 
box  of  clothing  for  Esteer  Hadad  and  her  family,  a  Bible- 
reader  in  Syria,  who  was  educated  in  Rev.  Dr.  Bird's 
school  in  Sukit  Ghrub,  ten  miles  south  of  Beirtit,  Syria. 

The  officers  of  the  band  January,  1890,  were :  Miss 
Georgiana  Hicks,  President,  Miss  A.  A.  Nichols,  Vice- 
President  ;  Miss  Sadie  Carson,  Corresponding  Secretary ; 
Miss  Ida  Jewell,  Recording  Secretary ;  Miss  Lulu  Reed, 
Treasurer. 

From  the  report  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  John  Dixon,  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Westchester,  for  the  year  ending  April  i, 
1880,  these  statistics  of  the  Westminster  Sunday-school  are 
gleaned :  Officers  and  teachers,  40 ;  adult  scholars,  80 ; 
youths  and  children,  354;  total  membership,  474 ;  number 
uniting  with  the  church,  19;  missionary  offerings,  $85; 
other  benevolence,  $213  ;  expenses  of  the  school,  $69. 

On  Sunday,  July  24,  1881,  the  Sunday-school  met  for 
the  last  time  in  the  old  church  building,  at  2  P.  M.  After 
singing  and  brief  remarks  by  several  of  the  teachers,  and 
prayer  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Dixon,  the  members  of 
the  school  marched  to  the  chapel  of  the  new  church  edifice 
over  the  way,  singing  as  they  went. 

Addresses  in  the  chapel  were  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ken- 
yon,  Rev.  John  Dixon,  and  the  superintendent,  Charles  R. 
Otis.  The  secretary  gave  a  report  of  the  school,  the  mem- 
bership of  which  was  390,  at  that  date  the  largest  school  in 
the  Westchester  Presbytery,  in  which  there  were  forty- 
three  churches. 

Officers  of  the  school,  September,  1882,  were:  Charles 
R.  Otis,  Superintendent;  Walter  Thomas,  Assistant-Super- 
intendent; J.  Sproull,  second  Assistant- wSuperintendent; 
Hiram  S.  Wiggins,  Secretary;  J.  W.  Goodale,  Treasurer; 
Norton  P.  Otis,  Librarian. 

In  consequence  of  the  burning  of  the  church  chapel, 
February  28,  1886,  the  Sunday-school  met  in  the  hall  of  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  on  the  following 
Sunday,  March  7,  and  occupied  that  hall  until  June  20  of 
the  same  year.     During  the  interim  between  the  burning 


302  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

and  restoration  of  the  chapel  the  teachers  and  scholars  of 
the  school  continued  wonderfully  faithful  in  their  attend- 
ance and  in  their  contributions  to  benevolent  objects,  thus 
proving-  their  love  for  the  school. 

The  Constant  Workers,  a  class  of  boys  of  this  school, 
besides  giving  to  the  regular  collections,  contributed  to  the 
Cot  of  the  Ministering  Children  in  St.  John's  Riverside 
Hospital  and  to  other  benevolent  objects,  making  a  total  of 

$175  50. 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  received  from 
Rev.  Henry  M.  Scudder,  D.  D.,  who  was  formerly  a  mis- 
sionary in  India  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Arcot 
Mission,  in  acknowledgment  for  money  received  from  this 
class  for  a  mission  school  in  California : 

"San  Francisco,  August  20,  1867. 
"  To  THE  Constant  Workers  : 

"  My  dear  young  Friends : — I  received  the  very  kind 

letter  from  your  dear  teacher  with  the  inclosure.     I  sent 

the  whole  amount  to  a  lady  named  Miss  Cary,  who  lives 

in  Solano  County  in  a  place  where  there  is  no  church  and 

no  minister   and  no   gentleman  capable  of  conducting  a 

Sabbath-school.     She   is    herself   the    superintendent   and 

conducts  the  work  with  singular  energy  and  great  devoted- 

ness.     That  little  school   needs   books  very  much,  and  I 

thought  I  could  not  dispose  of  your  money  in  any  better 

way.  Very  truly  yours, 

"H.  M.  SCUDDER." 

The  lady.  Miss  Elizabeth  D.  Cary,  to  whom  Rev.  Dr. 
Scudder  refers,  was  permitted  to  see  as  the  result  of  her 
labors  and  of  her  co-workers'  a  large  and  flourishing  church 
which  was  the  outgrowth  of  that  little  mission  school. 

The  class  took  for  their  motto,  "  To  do  good  and  to 
communicate  forget  not,  for  with  such  sacrifices  God  is  well 
pleased,"  and  the  following  verse  : 

"A  fruitful  life  for  man  and  God 
Eternity  will  well  reward  ; 
What 's  done  for  time  ends  by-and-by, 
What 's  done  for  God  can  never  die." 

It  met  in  the  old  church  building.      Only  Wm.  P.  Con- 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  303 

stable,  of  its  original  members,  is  now  connected  with 
the  Sunday  -  school.  This  class  committed  to  memory 
six  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety -nine  Scripture 
verses. 

Twenty-two  of  the  members  of  this  class  became  com- 
municants in  the  Westminster  Church  and  other  churches 
in  Yonkers.  Four  have  "  entered  into  the  rest  that  remain- 
eth."  One  is  preparing  for  the  ministry  ;  another  became 
a  Sunday-school  superintendent.  H.  Beattie  Brown,  M.  D., 
a  member  of  this  class,  was  appointed  House  Physician  in 
St.  John's  Riverside  Hospital,  Yonkers,  June,  1890.  And 
George  B.  Terrell,  another  member,  was  the  founder  of  the 
Chinese  department  in  the  First  Methodist  Sunday-school 
of  Yonkers. 

The  class  taught  by  Walter  Thomas  contributed  towards 
the  education  of  a  pupil  in  Persia  for  ten  years. 

The  class  the  Royal  Workers,  order  of  the  King's 
Sons,  taught  by  Miss  A.  A.  Nichols,  which  began  in  No- 
vember, 1887,  with  five  young  men,  now  numbers  one  hun- 
dred with  an  average  attendance  of  seventy-five,  and  is  the 
largest  Bible-class  of  young  men  in  the  city.  From  this 
class  a  large  number  have  been  received  into  the  commu- 
nion of  the  church.  An  effort  is  now  being  made  by  some 
of  the  members  of  the  class  to  enlarge  their  class-room  at 
their  own  expense. 

In  1887  it  contributed  towards  the  debt  of  the  church 
$50.  And  in  1888  to  1889  the  contributions  amounted  to 
$150. 

H.  Beattie  Brown's  class  of  young  ladies  supported 
a  girl  in  the  Girls'  Orphanage  in  Canton,  China,  which  is 
under  the  care  of  Rev.  B.  C.  Henry,  D.  D.,  for  three  years, 
contributing  $25  per  year.  Miss  Nettie  Brown's  (now  Mrs. 
B.  F.  Parliman)  class  also  did  the  same.  Both  of  these 
classes  contributed  besides  to  the  benevolent  fund  of  the 
Sunday-school. 

The  "  Society  for  Christian  Work,"  composed  of  young 
ladies  taught  by  Miss  Georgiana  Hicks,  the  missionary  vis- 
itor of  the  church,  contributed  $25  to  the  Tulsa  school, 
Indian  Territory,  $10  for  the  Wilson  Mission  in  New  York, 
$10  for  local  charities,  and  $50  towards  the  church  building 


304  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

fund.  The  class  also  donated  the  proceeds  of  an  entertain- 
ment towards  the  same  object. 

Mrs.  E.  Curtice  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  pri- 
mary department  of  this  school  in  April,  1857,  previous  to 
which  she  taught  a  class  of  girls.  Mrs.  Curtice  possessed 
gifts  which  peculiarly  fitted  her  for  her  work  and  she  was 
very  successful  in  it.  She  was  superintendent  of  the  pri- 
mary department  for  fourteen  years.  In  1 869  this  depart- 
ment numbered  nearly  two  hundred  scholars,  and  at  one  of 
the  anniversaries  it  had  two  hundred  and  fifty  in  attend- 
ance. The  exercises  of  this  department  were  always  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  order  of  exercises  and  gave  great 
pleasure  to  all  who  listened  to  them.  The  songs  sung  by 
this  department  on  several  of  these  occasions  were  com- 
posed by  Mrs.  Curtice. 

Mrs.  Curtice,  from  a  need  of  rest,  resigned  her  place  in 
January,  1871.  Her  department  at  this  time  numbered 
one-third  of  all  the  children  in  the  school.  The  teachers 
of  the  Sunday-school  at  her  resignation  presented  her 
with  an  elaborately  engrossed  copy  of  complimentary 
resolutions,  the  work  of  J.  M.  Alvord,  Secretary  of  the 
school.  In  it  were  set  the  photographs  of  twenty-seven 
teachers.  It  was  in  every  respect  a  work  worthy  of  the 
teachers  and  deserving  on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Curtice's  faith- 
fulness. 

For  twenty  years  Mrs.  Curtice  had  charge  of  the  First 
Industrial  School  connected  with  the  Westminster  Church. 
All  those  years  its  success  was  steady  and  uninterrupted, 
and  it  left  an  impress  for  good  on  the  minds  of  the  girls 
who  attended  it.  Its  anniversaries  were  always  occasions 
of  public  interest,  and  invariably  received  extended  notice 
in  the  city  papers. 

Mrs.  Curtice  did  not  labor  alone  for  Sunday-school 
work.  She  had  a  deep  and  warm  interest  in  foreign  and 
home  missions,  as  well  as  in  temperance  work,  to  all  of 
which  she  gave  her  prayers  and  help.  In  all  these  depart- 
ments of  Christian  work  she  was  an  intelligent,  efficient, 
tireless,  and  cheerful  toiler.  Mrs.  Curtice  was  also  one  of 
the  secretaries  of  the  Presbyterian  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Westchester  Presbytery.     A  few  days  prior  to  her  sud- 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  305 

den  death  she  addressed  the  children's  mission  band  of 
Westminster  Shurch.  And  thus  the  higher  life  came  to 
her  in  the  full  tide  of  activity  on  December  16,  1886.  Her 
funeral  services  were  conducted  by  her  pastor,  Rev.  Edward 
C.  Moore,  at  the  Westminster  Church  on  Saturday,  Decem- 
ber 18. 

In  February,  1871,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Brown  was  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  primary  department,  and  Miss  Josie 
Sanders  Assistant  Superintendent.  The  department  at 
this  time  met  in  the  hall  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  on 
North  Broadway,  there  being  no  room  for  them  in  the 
chapel.  Miss  Josie  Sanders  succeeded  Miss  Brown  as  su- 
perintendent.    The  class  at  this  time  numbered  140. 

In  1885  the  department  was  under  the  direction  of  O. 
Benedict  and  his  daughter,  and  numbered  127  scholars. 
Miss  J.  Jackson  succeeded  Mr.  Benedict. 

This  department  is  efficiently  taught  by  its  present 
superintendent,  Mrs.  Amelia  Walker,  has  an  enrolment  of 
eighty  and  an  average  attendance  of  sixty.  The  Interna- 
tional Lessons  are  taught,  with  Scripture  verses.  The  col- 
lections of  this  department  are  given  towards  the  general 
fund  of  the  school.  Each  pupil  is  furnished  with  a  small 
numbered  envelope,  which  is  placed  on  the  teacher's  desk 
as  the  pupils  pass  to  their  seats  on  entering  the  room. 
The  "  Little  Folks'  Paper  "  is  distributed. 

The  pastor's  report — Rev.  Charles  P.  Fagnani — to  the 
Westchester  Presbytery  for  the  year  ending  April  i,  1885, 
shows  this  record  of  the  school :  Number  of  officers,  7 ; 
number  of  teachers,  43 ;  number  of  scholars,  506 ;  total 
membership,  556;  average  attendance,  287;  number  united 
with  the  church,  6 ;  number  of  volumes  in  library,  740 ; 
amounts  given  to  the  Boards,  $251  ;  amounts  to  other  be- 
nevolences, $47. 

In  September,  1885,  the  following  officers  were  unani- 
mously elected  :  Ralph  E.  Prime,  Superintendent ;  Charles 
R.  Otis,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  Miss  Amelia  Cutbill, 
Treasurer ;  Miss  Josie  Sander,  Secretary  ;  M.  W.  Newman, 
Librarian  ;  Messrs.  W.  P.  Hickey  and  George  Fitzsimmons, 
Assistant  Librarians. 

Mr.  Prime  continued  to  serve  as  superintendent  until 

Sunday-school  Wort.  20 


306  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

October,  1886,  when  he  resigned,  C.  R.  Otis  succeeding- 
him.  Mr.  Prime,  in  assuming  the  charge  of  the  school, 
abolished  all  lesson  helps,  either  by  the  teachers  or  scholars, 
during  the  session  of  the  Sunday-school,  requiring  every 
teacher  and  pupil  to  have  their  own  Bible.  This  method 
induced  increased  attention,  preparation  and  study  of  the 
lesson,  both  by  teachers  and  scholars.  He  also  inaugurated 
written  examinations  and  reviews  of  the  lessons,  asking 
questions  from  the  desk,  each  pupil  being  obliged  to  write 
answers  in  the  class  without  assistance.  By  this  system  of 
examination  and  reviews  the  progress  and  proficiency  of 
the  scholars  in  Bible  study  was  ascertained. 

Mr.  Prime  was  assisted  in  his  work  by  the  pastor,  Rev.' 
Charles  P.  Fagnani,  who  was  declared  by  the  session  of  the 
church  (ex-ofhcio),  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
Mr.  Fagnani  took  immediate  charge  of  the  instruction  of 
the  teachers  in  the  use  of  the  blackboard  in  analyzing  and 
teaching  Scripture  lessons.  He  introduced  the  use  of  paper 
and  pencil  in  all  the  classes,  thereby  occupying  both  mind 
and  fingers  so  as  to  prevent  opportunities  for  amusement. 
There  was  never  such  attention  of  the  scholars  at  any  time 
as  was  obtained  by  these  methods. 

In  August,  1885,  the  hour  of  session  was  changed  from 
2  P.  M.  to  9:30  A.  M.  This  change  was  made  after  consulta- 
tion with  the  teachers  and  members  of  the  session  and  after 
careful  deliberation  was  unanimously  adopted.  The  object 
of  this  change  was  to  secure  the  attendance  of  non-church- 
going  children  to  a  church  service. 

The  attendance  of  the  children  at  the  morning  church 
service  was  increased  for  a  time  by  this  change,  but  the 
school  decreased  considerably  in  numbers — as  shown  by  the 
report  in  April,  1887. 

For  the  Christmas  of  1885  the  children  of  the  Sunday 
school  unanimously  agreed  to  forego  their  usual  presents, 
and  bring  gifts  to  be  sent  to  others  less  fortunate  than 
themselves.  The  result  of  this  determination  was  that  two 
large  boxes,  filled  with  toys,  confectionery,  fruit,  groceries, 
and  clothing,  and  two  barrels  of  books,  including  picture 
papers  and  Christmas  cards,  were  sent  to  Rev.  Mr.  Waugh, 
in  Charlotte,  N.  C,  who  had  charge  of  a  colored  church  at 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  307 

that  place.  These  gifts  were  highly  appreciated  by  the  re- 
cipients. One  little  girl — Nellie  Thomas — was  so  enthusi- 
astic in  the  matter  of  bringing  gifts  that  she  gave  her  only 
doll,  a  handsome  one  and  a  recent  gift  to  her  and  which  she 
prized  highly. 

The  pastor's  report — Rev.  Edward  C.  Moore — of  the 
Sunday-school  to  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester  for  the 
year  ending  April,  1888,  shows:  Number  of  officers,  7; 
number  of  teachers,  30 ;  number  of  scholars,  332  ;  total,  369  ; 
average  attendance  of  scholars,  213;  average  attendance  of 
scholars  at  church,  87. 

The  Sunday-school  contributed  for  benevolent  purposes 
from  January,  1887,  to  November,  1888,  $404  64. 

From  October,  1886,  to  December,  1888,  sixty-one  of 
the  members  of  the  Sunday-school  were  admitted  to  the 
communion  of  the  church  on  profession  of  faith. 

In  September,  1887,  the  superintendent  and  the 
children  of  the  Sunday-school  assumed  the  expense  of 
the  education  of  Dora  Chatter jee,  in  the  Woodstock 
Seminary,  India.  Her  course  of  study  will  comprise  six 
years. 

The  Stfnday -school  has  also  a  circle  of  "  King's  Sons  " 
and  several  circles  of  "  King's  Daughters."  The  King's 
Sons,  "  Royal  Workers  ;"  the  King's  Daughters,  the  "  Right- 
hand  Circle  ;"  the  "  Obedient  Circle,"  motto  :  "  For  me  to 
live  is  Christ ;"  the  "  Good  Shepherd  Circle,"  the  "  Reap- 
ing Circle ;"  and  the  "  Whatsoever  Circle." 

This  school,  in  company  with  the  Reformed  Church, 
First  Methodist,  and  Central  Methodist  Sunday-schools, 
went  on  their  annual  excursion  in  August,  1888.  The 
steamboat  "  Cygnus  "  took  them  to  Hazzleton  Grove,  Long 
Island,  about  four  hours'  sail  from  Yonkers.  There  were 
about  nineteen  hundred  persons  on  this  excursion. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1888  was  of  an  unusually 
entertaining  character.  Departing  from  the  usual  custom 
of  singing  of  carols  and  addresses,  the  children  interested 
their  friends  with  a  pleasing  cantata  entitled  "  Santa  Claus' 
Home ;  or,  the  Christmas  Excursion,"  the  words  of  which 
were  by  Miss  Fanny  Crosby,  and  the  music  and  dialogue 
by  W.  Howard  Doane.     The  exercises  were  held  in  the 


308  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

church,  which  was  crowded  with  an  appreciative  audience. 
The  school  marched  into  the  church  from  the  chapel  keep- 
ing step  to  a  lively  march  which  was  played  on  the  organ 
by  Miss  L.  Biggerstaff. 

The  exercises  began  by  singing  the  doxology,  which 
was  followed  by  Scripture  reading  of  Psalm  145,  "I  will 
extol  thee,  my  God,  O  King,"  by  Superintendent  Charles 
R.  Otis,  and  prayer  by  Elder  McKim,  after  which  the  excel- 
lent programme  prepared  for  the  occasion  was  gone  through 
with  in  good  style. 

At  the  close  of  the  entertainment  there  was  the  pre- 
sentation of  a  number  of  gifts  by  classes  to  their  teachers. 
Miss  A.  A.  Nichols  was  presented  with  Rev.  Dr.  F.  C. 
Cook's  Commentary,  in  ten  volumes,  handsomely  bound, 
from  her  class  of  young  men,  Walter  Thomas  received  a 
fine  etching.  Miss  G.  Hicks  a  gold  pencil,  Frank  Hickey  a 
handsome  inkstand.  A  gift  worthy  of  note  was  the  pre- 
sentation of  twelve  dollars  towards  the  debt  on  the  church 
by  Col.  Womersley's  class.  It  is  also  pleasant  to  record  in 
connection  with  this  gift  that  there  are  others  "  who  are 
working  in  the  shade,"  who,  by  repeated  acts  of  self-denial 
and  self-sacrifice,  known  only  to  a  few,  are  contributing 
towards  this  same  object,  thereby  proving  their  devotion 
and  love  for  this  church. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  the  school,  to  the  number 
of  420,  adjourned  to  the  chapel  and  each  scholar  received 
a  paper  bag  containing  fruits,  nuts,  and  confectionery,  the 
boys  of  the  infant  class  getting  in  addition  humming 
tops,  and  the  little  girls  dolls.  And  thus  ended  one  of  the 
most  enjoyable  Christmas  entertainments  the  school  ever 
held. 

The  amount  raised  by  the  school  for  benevolence  from 
January,  1889,  to  November,  1889,  was  $188  84. 

The  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  of 
the  Westminster  Church  and  Sunday-school,  composed  of 
young  ladies  who  meet  Sunday  evenings  at  7  o'clock,  was 
organized  on  September  22,  1889.  The  object  is  to  promote 
an  earnest  Christian  life  among  its  members,  to  improve 
their  mutual  acquaintance,  and  to  make  them  more  useful. 
The  officers  are  Miss  G.  Hicks,  President ;   Miss  Ida  Bell, 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  309 

Vice-President;  Miss  Emma  Hoar,  Secretary;  and  Miss 
Sarah  Machin,  Treasurer. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  was  crowded 
with  scholars  and  friends,  Wednesday  evening,  December 
25,  1889,  when  the  festival  of  the  Sabbath-school  took  place. 

Superintendent  Charles  R.  Otis  presided.  The  pro- 
gramme was  very  interesting,  all  who  took  conspicuous 
parts  being  the  smaller  children  of  the  school.  The  little 
tots  made  especial  hits.  After  Scripture  reading  and 
prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Graves,  the  Superintendent  made  his 
report  and  read  the  report  of  the  School  Secretary,  Miss 
Sanders. 

Recitations  were  given  by  the  following  children : 
Charley  Otis,  Rose  Effie  Kirkwood,  Ada  Stone,  Edna 
Abrams,  Allie  Stone,  Arthur  Ovenden,  Burgess  Hodges, 
Tina  McKimm,  Birdie  Moore,  Jessie  Ewing,  George  Lan- 
caster, Maggie  Wilson,  Harvey  Slade,  and  Gertrude  Flem- 
ing. 

The  proceedings  were  varied  with  the  singing  of 
carols  by  the  school.  Miss  Biggerstaff  at  the  organ.  Miss 
Sanders  at  the  piano,  and  William  H.  Briggs  with  his  cor- 
net accompanied,  Walter  Thomas  being  leader.  A  song 
by  the  infant  class,  marked  by  eccentric  outbursts  of  child- 
ish vim,  produced  happy  smiles  on  appreciative  counte- 
nances. 

"  How  the  Story  was  Told  "  was  the  most  elaborate 
feature  of  the  entertainment.  The  heathen  nations  were 
represented  by  young  people,  in  appropriate  costumes,  who 
spoke  and  sang.  The  Hottentots  deserve  special  mention 
for  accuracy  of  detail.  This  feature,  though  it  had  a 
humorous  character,  was  nevertheless  quite  impressive. 

The  event  of  the  evening,  of  course,  was  the  presenta- 
tion of  gifts.  Every  child  received  from  the  school  a  bag 
of  good  things  to  eat ;  and  there  was  much  exchanging  of 
remembrances  between  teachers  and  classes. 

Great  attention  has  been  given  by  the  superintendents 
of  this  school  to  securing  the  best  singing  books  of  the  day. 

The  patriotism  of  the  school  was  abundantly  shown  in 
the  late  war  of  the  Rebellion,  no  less  than. eleven  of  its 
members  taking  part  therein,  namely,  John  W.  Ackerman, 


3IO  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

James  Harvey,  Richard  Cook,  James  Montgomery,  Thomas 
Hampson,  Garret  Majorie,  Solon  Lapham,  Charles  Wilde, 
Charles  Austin,  George  Barker,  and  Alex.  O.  Kirkwood, 
all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  the  latter,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Forty-seventh  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
were  members  of  New  York  regiments,  some  of  whom 
became  officers  therein. 

Miss  Matilda  Fuller  officiated  as  pianist  in  the  Sunday- 
school  for  ten  years.  Miss  Lizzie  BiggerstafE,  the  present 
excellent  organist  of  the  church,  received  her  first  as  well 
as  more  advanced  instructions  from  Miss  Fuller. 

Charles  R,  Otis  has  served  the  school  as  its  superin- 
tendent from  May,  1877,  with  the  exceptions  of  a  few  years, 
until  the  present  writing.  The  Sunday-school  under  his 
leadership  has  met  with  marked  success,  and  for  his  long 
term  of  service  in  connection  with  this  school  as  teacher 
and  superintendent  his  name  is  on  the  honorary  list  of 
Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

Three  pupils  of  this  school  were  prepared  for  the  min- 
istry, namely,  Alexander  Scotland  and  George  Gallagher, 
both  of  whom  graduated  from  Princeton  Theological  Sem- 
inary, and  Frederick  Benedict,  who  graduated  from  Park 
College,  Parkville,  Mo.  John  C.  Goddard,  now  the  talented 
and  popular  young  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  that 
State,  was  also  a  member  of  this  Sunday-school. 

The  superintendents  in  the  order  of  their  service  have 
been  as  follows :  Ebenezer  Curtice,  who  was  the  first  super- 
intendent, elected  September,  1855,  and  served  until  April, 
1856;  William  Montgomery ;  Archibald  Baxter ;  Ebenezer 
Curtice,  from  October,  1859,  until  October,  i860;  Henry  A. 
Underwood ;  James  Smith  ;  G.  P.  Reevs,  M.  D. ;  Henry  A. 
Underwood,  resigned  1868 ;  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge,  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  until  May,  1877;  Charles  R.  Otis,  elected  May  6, 
1877,  until  September,  1884;  Walter  Thomas,  elected  Sep- 
tember 9,  1884,  to  January,  1885  ;  Ralph  E.  Prime,  elected 
January,  1885,  resigned  October,  1886;  Charles  R.  Otis,  the 
present  superintendent,  reelected  October,  1886. 

The  second  Sunday  in  May  is  observed  as  Children's 
Day.      The  morning  service  in  the  church  is    especially 


WESTMINSTER   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  3 II 

devoted  to  them,  the  pastor  usually  addressing  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  attends  in  a  body.  The  collection  taken  at 
that  time  is  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  Sunday-school. 

The  lesson  helps  used  by  the  school  are  the  Peloubet's 
Graded  Series  of  Question  Books  and  the  "  Sunday-school 
Times."  The  Sunday-school  hymn  book  is  "  Gospel  Songs, 
No.  5,"  by  Messrs.  Sankey,  McGranahan,  and  George  Steb- 
bins. 

The  teachers'  meeting  is  held  immediately  after  the  " 
weekly  prayer-meeting  of  the  church  on  Wednesday  even- 
ings.     The  session  of  the  Sunday-school  is  immediately 
after  the  morning  service  of  the  church,  from  12  M.  to  i 
p.  M. 

Report  of  school  for  the  year  ending  April,  1891  : 
Officers,  7;  teachers,  35  ;  scholars,  540;  amount  contributed 
for  benevolence,  $300;  number  united  with  the  church,  31. 

Miss  Josie  Sanders  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  Sun- 
day-school for  seven  years. 

The  Sunday-school  records  for  1889,  1890,  1891  include 
the  names  of  the  following  teachers  :  Mrs.  John  H.  Brown, 
Mrs.  McWilliams,  Mrs.  Col.  Womersley,  Miss  Lucy  Rob- 
erts, Miss  Bogart,  Miss  Emma  Smith,  Miss  Nellie  Bartlett, 
Miss  Amelia  Cutbill,  Miss  Lizzie  Smith,  Miss  Helen  Cou- 
zens.  Miss  Lizzie  Biggerstaff,  Miss  Agnes  McMahon,  Miss 
Lillie  Bartlett,  Miss  Mary  Hicks,  Miss  Ada  Parsons,  Miss 
Georgiana  Hicks,  Miss  Jennie  Wiggins,  Miss  Amie  Stone 
(now  Mrs.  E.  R.  Holden),  Miss  A.  A.  Nichols,  Miss  Minnie 
Hickey,  Miss  Louise  Smith,  Messrs.  William  McKim,  A.  O. 
Kirkwood,  Col.  Womersley,  McWilliams,  H.  Beattie  Brown, 
Walter  Thomas,  Frank  Hickey,  and  Mrs.  Wm.  P.  Con- 
stable. 

The  present  officers  of  Westminster  Sabbath-school 
are  :  Superintendent,  Charles  R.  Otis ;  Assistant  Superin- 
tendent, Frank  B.  Hickey ;  Secretary,  Miss  Josie  Sanders ; 
Treasurer,  Miss  Amelia  Cutbill ;  Librarians,  William  P. 
Hickey,  J.  B.  Austin,  Geo.  A.  Englehart. 

The  teachers  are  :  primary  class,  Mrs.  Amelia  Walker ; 
Assistant,  Miss  Alice  Christie.  The  teachers  in  the  main 
school  are :  Miss  Allen,  Mr.  J.  Loring  Arnold,  Miss  Nel- 
lie Bartlett,   Miss  Libbie  Biggerstaff,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Brown, 


312  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

Miss  Susan  M.  Bogert,  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Calkins,  Miss  M. 
E.  Couzens,  Miss  Lilla  Clark,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Clark,  Miss 
Amelia  Cutbill,  Mr.  Wm.  P.  Constable,  Mrs.  Wm.  Eddy, 
Miss  Minnie  Hickey,  Miss  Georgie  Hicks,  Miss  Mary 
Hicks,  Miss  Emma  Hoar,  Mr.  Allan  S.  Kirkwood,  Mr. 
Robert  O.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Sarah  McMahon,  Miss  Liz- 
zie McMahon,  Mr.  Wm.  McKim,  Mr.  J.  R.  McWilliam,  Mrs. 
J.  R.  McWilliam,  Miss  Adelia  A.  Nichols,  Miss  Ada  Par- 
sons,  Miss  Lucy  H.  Roberts,  Miss  Emma  Smith,  Miss  Lib- 
bie  Smith,  Miss  Grace  Stone,  Miss  Maude  Synyer,  Mr. 
Walter  Thomas,  and  Mrs.  Col.  Womersley. 


THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    313 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH   AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  First  Unitarian  Congregational  Church  of  Yon- 
kers  owes  its  establishment  to  the  efforts  of  Messrs.  Oil- 
man Dudley,  Cyrus  Cleveland,  George  Macadam,  -  James  M. 
Drake,  and  Gorham  Parks. 

June  30,  1856,  printed  invitations  were  sent  to  all  those 
interested  in  the  cause  of  liberal  Christianity  to  meet  for 
religious  services,  which  were  to  be  held  in  the  Getty  Ly- 
ceum, in  the  Getty  House,  on  Sunday,  July  6,  1856. 

About  two  hundred  persons,  residents  of  Yonkers, 
Riverdale,  Spuyten  Duy  vil,  Fort  Washington,  Hastings,  and 
Irvington,  responded  to  the  invitation,  and  met  at  the  time 
appointed  to  listen  to  the  first  Unitarian  sermon  preached 
in  Yonkers.  It  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Osgood, 
D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Messiah  in  New  York. 

Occasional  services  were  continued,  with  the  assistance 
of  various  clergymen,  until  1857,  when  Rev.  A.  A.  Liver- 
more,  D.  D.,  author  of  the  Commentaries,  and  editor  of  the 
New  York  "  Christian  Inquirer,"  came  to  reside  in  Yonkers. 
As  no  hall  could  be  procured,  preaching  services  were  held 
for  several  weeks  at  the  residences  of  Cyrus  Cleveland,  Dun- 
can Smith,  Mr.  Homans,  and  others.  Rev.  Dr.  Livermore 
officiating.  Rev.  Mr.  Cook,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  who 
was  conducting  a  boys'  school  at  the  corner  of  South  Broad- 

*  George  Macadam  was  untiring  in  his  devotion  and  faithfulness  to  ad- 
vance its  interests  in  the  early  days  of  its  history.  He  also  was  an  active 
and  efficient  worker  in  all  efforts  for  the  improvement  and  intellectual  cul- 
ture of  young  men  of  the  community,  and  earnestly  sought  by  every  means 
in  his  power  to  promote  their  happiness  without  regard  to  caste  or  con- 
dition. He  was  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the  Yonkers  Circulating 
Library  Association  which  was  incorporated  in  1859,  of  which  he  was  Pres- 
ident. He  was  a  member  of  the  first  lecture  committee  of  the  Yonkers 
Debating  Society,  oganized  in  May,  1854.  He  was  suddenly  called  from 
his  labors  March  29,  1857.  His  memory  lingers  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
knew  and  loved  him  for  his  many  virtues  and  respected  him  for  his  philan- 
thropy. 


314  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

way  and  Hudson  Street,  kindly  offered  the  use  of  his  school- 
room to  the  congregation,  and  preached  himself  several 
times  very  acceptably. 

The  society  was  organized  September  7,  1858,  and  the 
first  board  of  trustees  was  elected  on  that  day.  The  names 
of  the  gentlemen  who  composed  the  board  are  as  follows : 
James  M.  Drake,  Cyrus  Cleveland,  Everett  Clapp,  Oilman 
Dudley,  and  Joseph  Mattison,  and  they  signed  the  certifi- 
cate of  incorporation  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Of  these  gentlemen  all  are  still  alive  except  Mr. 
Dudley  and  Cyrus  Cleveland. 

About  this  time  the  society  secured  Flagg's  Hall,  on 
Palisade  Avenue,  corner  of  Mechanic  Street  (now  New  Main 
Street),  and  worshipped  there  three  years,  until  the  present 
church  edifice  on  North  Broadway,  between  Irving  Place 
and  Lamartine  Avenue,  was  erected  in  1861.  Baldwin  & 
Bradley  did  the  mason  work,  Ackert  &  Quick  were  the  car- 
penters, John  McLain  did  the  painting,  and  J.  Wray  Mould 
was  the  architect  and  superintended  the  work.  The  edifice 
was  so  well  built  that  it  has  required  no  repairs  since  its 
construction,  except  outside  painting.  The  stained  glass 
windows  came  from  the  Morgan  establishment. 

The  dedication  of  the  new  house  of  worship  took  place 
on  Wednesday  morning,  October  30,  1861,  at  eleven  o'clock. 
The  programme  of  exercises  on  that  occasion  was  as  follows : 

Voluntary  on  the  organ.  Chant.  Invocation  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Osgood,  D.  D.  Duet  — "Come,  thou  Fount  of 
every  blessing."  Prayer  of  dedication  by  Rev.  Frederick 
A.  Farley,  D.  D.  Hymn,  read  by  Rev.  Eben  Francis. 
Sermon  by  Rev.  Henry  W.  Bellows,  D.  D.  Anthem — 
Jubilate.  Address  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Livermore,  D.  D.  Con- 
cluding prayer  by  Rev.  O.  B.  Frothingham.  Hymn,  read 
by  Rev.  N.  A.  Staples,  formerly  chaplain  of  the  Sixth  Wis- 
consin Regiment  and  pastor  of  the  Second  Unitarian 
Church  of  Brooklyn.  Benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard,  of 
Mount  Vernon. 

The  following  brief  notice  of  this  interesting  occasion 
appeared  in  the  "  Yonkers  Examiner:" 

"This  beautiful  little  church,  so  pleasing  to  the  eye 
both  in  its  outward  and  inner  appearance,  was  solemnly 


THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    315 

dedicated  to  God's  service  on  Wednesday  morning  last, 
October  30.  The  exercises  began  at  eleven  o'clock,  but 
long  before  that  hour  the  church  was  crowded  to  its  utmost 
extent.  The  singing  from  the  quartet  choir  was  excellent, 
especially  the  duet  '  Come,  thou  Fount  of  every  bless- 
ing,' and  the  anthem  Jubilate.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Rev.  Henry  W.  Bellows,  D.  D.,  from  the  text  '  I  am  the 
door :  by  me  if  any  man  enter,  he  shall  go  in  and  out  and 
find  pasture.'  John  10  :g.  It  was  listened  to  with  pro- 
found attention  and  was  most  impressive  and  solemn,  yet 
in  its  influence  it  was  elevating  and  joyous." 

The  address  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  A.  A.  Livermore,  was 
listened  to  with  no  less  interest.  He  spoke  of  the  church 
as  the  great  preventive  of  natural  crime  and  disorders,  as  the 
foundation  stone  of  all  private  and  public  excellences,  and 
said  that  although  Hope  Church  had  gone  up  amid  the 
clangor  of  arms,  still  it  was  a  part  of  the  great  work  to 
save  our  country  by  advancing  the  cause  of  God.  Speaking 
of  the  building,  he  said  the  edifice  was  planted  in  the  spring- 
time, the  summer  had  witnessed  its  growth,  and  now  in 
the  autumn  the  golden  sheaves,  the  finished  reality,  stood 
before  them.  He  spoke  of  the  spirit  which  had  animated 
the  members  of  the  church  in  erecting  so  beautiful  an  edifice. 
They  had  given  time,  labor,  money,  not  grudgingl}^  but 
with  that  free  spirit  which  has  faith,  hope,  and  charity  for 
its  basis  and  the  advancing  of  God's  kingdom  for  its  object. 
His  allusion  to  those  "  who  had  lingered  with  them  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  passed  on,  but  who  although  absent  in 
body  were  still  with  them  in  spirit,"  was  touchingly  beauti- 
ful. He  referred  to  the  beautiful  decorations  of  the  walls 
and  explained  the  meaning  of  the  symbols  thereon.  They 
were  language  to  the  eyes  by  which  the  spirit  would  receive 
a  dim  vision  of  its  future  immortality.  He  closed  the 
address  by  referring  to  the  objects  for  which  the  church  was 
dedicated  and  urged  that  all  would  keep  such  ever  in  view 
as  the  surest  way  to  become  blessed  of  God  both  as  a 
people  and  a  church. 

The  following  notice  descriptive  of  the  church  edifice 
appeared  in  the  "  New  York  Evening  Post :" 

"  The  church  itself  is  truly  a  gem  in  its  way.     Built  in 


3l6  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

the  form  of  a  Latin  cross,  its  outline  is  ingeniously  varied 
by  the  introduction  of  porches  and  side  entrances  so  as  to 
give  it  an  appearance  of  breadth,  as  well  as  superior  ele- 
gance. A  delicate  spire  appropriately  springs  from  the 
central  portion  of  the  roof. 

"Within,  the  decorations  seemed  in  some  degree  a 
reflex  of  nature's  coloring  without,  the  crimson,  orange, 
and  gold  being  tastefully  introduced  in  the  ornamentation 
of  apsis,  pulpit,  organ  loft,  and  windows.  Over  the  arch 
spanning  the  pulpit  is  inscribed  in  golden  letters  the  words : 
'  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good-will 
towards  men.'  And  over  the  arched  windows  on  either 
side  of  the  pulpit  are  the  following  inscriptions :  on  the 
right, '  The  truth  shall  make  you  free  ;'  on  the  left,  *  I  know 
that  my  Redeemer  liveth.'  In  the  recess  over  the  stained 
glass  windows  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit  are  the  words 
'  Faith,  Hope,  Charity,'  and  on  the  ceiling  above  them  are 
symbols  expressive  of  the  faith  of  the  church. 

"  We  attempt  no  technical  description,  but  simply  re- 
cord an  agreeable  impression.  To  J.  W.  Mould,  the  archi- 
tect, is  to  be  given  the  credit  of  the  happy  designs  of  this 
beautiful  and  cheerful  Christian  church,  a  fitting  religious 
home  for  those  .who  have  a  bright  and  courageous  faith." 

Rev.  Frederick  C.  Farley,  D.  D.,  a  retired  clergyman 
of  Brooklyn,  has  always  manifested  a  very  deep  interest  in 
the  growth  of  the  church  ever  since  its  organization.  Rev. 
Thomas  Starr  King  also  gave  a  lecture,  the  proceeds  of 
which  he  very  generously  donated  towards  the  building 
fund  of  the  church. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  church  was  held 
on  Sunday  evening,  July  6,  1881,  at  the  residence  of  Thomas 
F.  Gane,  on  North  Broadway. 

Rev.  Stephen  H.  Camp,  of  Union  Church,  Brooklyn, 
presided. 

Letters  of  congratulation  were  read  from  Rev.  A.  A. 
Livermore,  D.  D.,  the  first  pastor  and  founder  of  the  church, 
Rev.  Joseph  May,  Rev.  G.  L.  Stowell,  former  pastors  of  the 
church,  and  from  Rev.  Frederick  C.  Farley,  D.  D.,  of  Brook- 
lyn, eighty-eight  years  of  age,  who  was  present  at  the  dedi- 
cation of  Hope  Church.     An  address  was  made  by  Rev. 


THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    317 

Theodore  C.  Williams,  of  All  Souls'  Church,  New  York, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Camp. 

Mr.  Fretwell,  of  Brooklyn,  made  a  few  remarks.  Hymn 
463,  **  One  holy  church  of  God  appears,"  was  sung.  Mr. 
Camp  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the  exercises  of 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  Hope  Unitarian  Church 
were  brought  to  a  close. 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  A.  A.  Liver- 
more,  D.  D.,  who  served  for  six  years  and  resigned  in  1863, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Presidency  of  the  Meadville 
Theological  School  in  Pennsylvania,  which  position  he  now 
holds. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Israel  F.  Williams,  a  prom- 
ising young  clergyman  from  Taunton,  Mass.  The  war  of 
the  Rebellion  was  raging  at  that  time,  and  before  assuming 
the  pastorate  Mr.  Williams  entered  the  service  of  the  United 
States  Sanitary  Commission  to  fulfil  an  engagement  that 
he  had  made.  There  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  on  the  day 
on  which  he  was  to  have  been  installed  as  pastor,  in  1864. 

From  that  time  the  services  were  conducted  by  different 
preachers  until  September  14,  1865,  when  Rev.  Joseph  May 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  May  re- 
signed after  two  years'  service,  and  accepted  a  call  from 
Newburyport,  Mass.,  and  from  thence  to  the  First  Unitarian 
Church  of  Philadelphia,  over  which  he  is  settled  at  the 
present  time. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Rushton  D.  Burr,  who  min- 
istered to  the  society  for  nine  years.  Air.  Burr  is  now 
preaching  in  London,  England. 

After  Mr.  Burr  left  lay  services  were  carried  on  for  two 
years,  during  which  time  the  best  printed  sermons  of  the 
denomination  were  read  by  Duncan  Smith  and  Fisher  A. 
Baker. 

The  next  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  George  L.  Stowell, 
who  remained  four  years,  and  left  on  account  of  failing 
health. 

Rev.  John  Haddaeus  was  his  successor  in  1884,  and  re- 
mained with  the  society  until  1886. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  James  Thompson  Bixby,  Ph. 
D.,  was  installed  on  Sunday  evening,  March  7,  1887,  and  is 


3l8  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

serving-  the  churcli  with  great  acceptance.  He  is  the  second 
son  of  Clark  S.  and  Elizabeth  C.  Bixby,  was  born  in  Barre, 
Mass.,  July  30,  1843,  a^nd  is  of  native  American  stock  on  both 
his  father's  and  mother's  side,  one  of  his  ancestors  being 
the  Mistress  Rebecca  Nourse  who  was  executed  at  Salem, 
Mass.,  during  the  witchcraft  delusion,  she  steadfastly  refus- 
ing to  confess  to  charges  made  against  her. 

Mr.  Bixby  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Cambridge 
High  School  in  i860,  arid  graduated  in  1864.  For  three 
years  he  w^as  engaged  in  private  teaching  in  New  York 
city.  In  1870  he  graduated  at  the  Harvard  Divinity  School. 
After  nine  years  of  service  as  pastor  of  the  First  Parish, 
Watertown,  Mass.,  and  secondly  of  the  First  Parish,  Bel- 
fast, Maine,  he  became  professor  of  religious  philosophy  in 
the  Meadville  Theological  School  in  Pennsylvania,  filling 
at  the  same  time  the  post  of  minister  to  the  Independent 
Congregational  Church  at  Meadville. 

In  1876  and  in  1883  he  delivered  courses  of  lectures  be- 
fore the  Lowell  Institute  in  Boston,  Mass.  In  1876  he  pub- 
lished, through  D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  a  work  on  the  relations 
of  science  and  religion  entitled  "  Similarities  of  Physical 
and  Religious  Knowledge."  In  1883  a  European  trip  for 
the  purpose  of  travel  and  study  at  the  German  universities 
was  undertaken,  and  in  1885  he  received  the  degree  of 
doctor  of  philosophy  from  the  University  of  Leipzig. 

On  his  return  to  the  United  States  he  filled  for  some 
time  the  pulpit  of  the  Unitarian  Church  in  Ann  Arbor. 
In  January,  1887,  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Congregational  Church  of  Yonkers  to  become  its 
pastor. 

The  following  is  the  order  of  exercises  of  the  service 
of  welcome  to  Rev.  James  T.  Bixby,  on  Monday  evening, 
March  7,  1887:  Voluntary.  Invocation.  Reading  of  the 
Scriptures,  Rev.  A.  D.  Smith.  Hymn.  Sermon,  Rev. 
Theodore  C.  Williams.  Installing  prayer.  Rev.  Robert 
Collyer.  Hymn.  Right  hand  of  fellowship.  Rev.  Russell 
N.  Bellows.  Charge  to  the  pastor.  Rev.  Robert  Collyer. 
Address  to  the  congregation,  Rev.  Stephen  H.  Camp. 
Hymn.     Benediction  by  the  pastor. 

This   society,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  supported  a 


THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    319 

teacher  for  the  Freedmen  of  the  South  for  three  years  at  an 
expense  of  $600  per  year.  It  also  contributed  generously 
to  the  Sanitary  Commission  during  the  Civil  War. 

The  church  property  is  beautifully  located,  is  valuable, 
and  free  from  debt.  The  present  board  of  trustees  is  com- 
posed of  Cyrus  Cleveland,*  President,  Duncan  Smith,  Hal- 
cyon Skinner,  Fisher  A.  Baker,  and  Miss  Emma  Herzog, 
who  is  also  Secretary. 

Divine  worship  on  Sunday  is  held  in  this  church  at 
ID :  45  A.  M.  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  celebrated 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  January,  April,  July,  and  October. 
The  pulpit  Bible,  which  is  a  handsome  Oxford  one,  was 
presented  to  the  church  October,  1861,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Word- 
ly's  church,  of  Providence,  R.  I. 

The  baptismal  font  of  the  Unitarian  church  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Oilman  Dudley,  of  Hastings. 

The  communion  service  was  presented  by  Mr.  James 
M.  Drake,  of  New  York. 

The  organist  of  the  church  is  Miss  Joanna  W.  Williams. 

Abner  C.  Gault,  the  present  sexton  of  the  church,  has 
occupied  that  place  for  eighteen  years. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  Sunday-school  of  the  First  Unitarian  Congrega- 
tional Church  was  begun  in  September,  1856,  and  was  held 
at  irregular  intervals  from  that  date  until  the  erection  of 
the  present  church  edifice  in  1 861,  at  which  time  a  more 
complete  organization  of  the  school  was  effected  by  Rev. 
A.  A.  Livermore,  D.  D.,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church. 
The  school  has  been  regularly  maintained  since  that  date. 

Previous  to  that  time  the  school  was  held  in  the  Getty 
Lyceum,  a  hall  in  the  Getty  House,  which  it  occupied  for 
several  months.  From  that  place  it  was  removed  to  Flagg's 
Hall,  corner  of  Palisade  Avenue  and  New  Main  Street — then 
Factory  and  Mechanic  Streets — which  place  it  continued  to 
occupy  until  the  completion  of  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  always  manifested  a 
deep  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  some  of  them  have  served 
*  Deceased. 


320  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

as  its  superintendent.  Mrs.  A.  A.  Livermore  was  the  first 
superintendent.  Among  the  early  teachers  are  recalled 
the  following:  George  Macadam,  Miss  Sophia  A.  Mac- 
adam, the  Misses  Cleveland,  Miss  Elizabeth  W.  Putnam, 
Miss  A.  W.  Warren,  David  R.  Jaques,  and  those  of  a  still 
later  date  are  Mrs.  Duncan  Smith,  Miss  Swazy,  Miss  M.  C. 
Osborne,  Mrs.  Thos.  F.  Gane,  Rev.  G.  L.  Stowell,  Henry 
Jones,  Miss  Emma  Herzog,  and  Miss  J.  W.  Williams. 

The  school,  though  never  large,  has  had  on  its  enrol- 
ment list  forty  pupils.  Its  regular  session  is  held  at  1 2  :  05 
o'clock,  noon,  immediately  after  the  morning  service. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  this  Sunday- 
school  in  the  centennial  year,  February,  1876: 

"  The  Sunday-school  connected  with  the  Unitarian 
Church  on  North  Broadway  has  made  good  progress  since 
its  organization  and  had  an  able  and  efficient  corps  of 
teachers.  The  superintendent  kindly  furnished  us  with  the 
following  exhibit  of  the  school  during  the  past  year :  Offi- 
cers, I  ;  teachers,  7 ;  scholars  on  register,  54 :  average  attend- 
ance, 24;  largest  attendance,  32;  deaths,  i;  volumes  in 
library,  335.  Mr.  Pelham  W.  Warren  acts  in  the  capacity 
of  superintendent,  treasurer,  and  librarian.  The  teachers 
are,  Mrs.  Duncan  Smith,  Miss  T.  Cleveland,  Miss  Sophia 
Macadam,  Miss  L.  Montgomery,  Miss  Ann  Osborne,  and 
Miss  M.  Swazy. 

"  The  teachers  of  this  school  are  interested  in  all  efforts 
for  the  advancement  of  Sunday-school  work.  Mrs.  Warren, 
a  former  teacher  of  the  school,  has  been  appointed  to  pre- 
pare an  essay  on  methods  of  Sunday-school  work,  which  is 
to  be  read — and  is  one  of  the  subjects  for  discussion — at  the 
fall  convention  of  the  Women's  League,  which  association 
has  been  recently  formed  by  the  Unitarian  Church,  and 
which  has  for  its  object  the  spread  of  '  liberal  Christianity  ' 
and  the  furtherance  of  practical  methods  of  benevolence  in 
connection  with  church  work." 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  Rushton  D.  Burr,  in  connection 
with  this  Sunday-school,  is  held  in  pleasant  remembrance 
from  his  interest  in  the  choral  services,  of  which  he  had 
the  immediate  supervision. 

The    following  extract  from  a  letter  received  from  a 


THE   FIRST   UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    32 1 

former  pastor  and  superintendent,  Rev.  Joseph  May,  gives 
reminiscences  of  the  Sunday-school  while  under  his  charge  : 

"York  Harbor,  Maine,  Julv  11,  1888. 

"  Miss  A.  E.  Kirkwood: 

"  Your  favor  called  up  some  of  my  happiest  memories, 
but  I  regret  that  my  recollections  in  respect  to  the  particu- 
lars about  which  you  inquire  are,  I  find,  too  vague  to  be  of 
use  to  you.  My  congregation,  though  strong  in  spirit  and 
life,  was  small  in  numbers,  and  contained,  even  for  its  size, 
proportionally  few  children.  Our  school  was  maintained 
with  earnest  devotion  and  the  children  were  happy.  I  re- 
member especially  one  grand  Christmas  eve  festival  when 
we  built  an  evergreen  bower  from  which  a  fairy  emerged, 
recited  a  Christmas  poem,  and  presently  unveiled  another 
who  assisted  her  in  distributing  the  previously  hidden 
gifts.  But  I  can  give  you  few  details — hardly  any  except 
that  Mr.  David  R.  Jaques,  now  of  New  York,  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Putnam,  now  deceased,  were  the  most  responsible 
active  workers  in  the  school  while  I  was  there.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  school  was  organized  by  Rev.  Dr.  Liver- 
more.  I  think  Mr.  George  Macadam  assisted  him.  Regret- 
ting to  serve  you  so  poorly,  and  hoping  you  may  from 
others  get  more  of  what  you  desire,  believe  me, 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"JOSEPH  MAY." 

Rev.  A.  A.  Livermore,  D.  D.,  the  founder  of  this  Sun- 
day-school, writes  as  follows : 

"Wilton,  New  Hampshire,  August  24,  1888. 
"  *  *  *  After  the  erection  of  Hope  Church  on  North  Broad- 
way the  Sunday-school  was  regularly  established.  The 
number  of  teachers  and  scholars  was  always  small,  but 
they  were  interested  and  devoted,  and  made  up  in  fidelity 
and  zeal  what  was  lacking  in  size. 

"  Besides  the  children  of  the  church,  a  few  from  out- 
side families  attended,  making  it,  in  part,  a  mission-school. 
I  remember  members  from  the  families  of  Macadam,  Drake, 
Cleveland,  Cromwell,  Homans,  Osborne,  Mattison,  Gourlie, 
and  others  were  enlisted  either  as  teachers  or  pupils.  One 
of   the  younger  classes  used  the  Calvary  Catechism,  and 

Suaday-Bchool  Work.  21 


322  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

others  Fox's  Questions  on  the  Four  Gospels.  The  Uni- 
tarian Service  Book  was  used  to  conduct  the  devotional 
exercises.  A  weekly  children's  paper,  'The  Dayspring,' 
was  distributed.     An  address  was  usually  delivered. 

"  The  number  of  pupils  at  one  time  was  forty.  They 
have  long-  since  been  scattered  by  removal  and  death. 
Some  have  grown  up  to  be  influential  members  of  society, 
some  found  an  early  grave,  and  some  are  still  members 
of  Hope  Church,  and  help  to  maintain  the  cause  of  liberal 
Christain  faith.  They  have  all,  I  trust,  become  followers  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  tasted  the  exceeding  sweetness 
of  his  loving  spirit,  and  been  made  happier  for  the  lessons 
of  the  Hope  Church  Sunday-school  and  better  fitted  for 
their  immortal  career  as  the  children  of  God. 

"  We  also,  as  children  of  Hope  Church,  had  another, 
not  Sunday-school,  but  evening  week-day  school,  in  which 
we  were  all  much  interested.  It  was  open  to  all  children 
of  both  sexes  who  could  not  attend  the  common  school  be- 
cause of  their  employment.  It  was  held  on  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  of  each  week  in  a  hall  over  a  saloon  on  the  street 
opposite  the  Getty  House,  near  Broadway.  The  number  of 
pupils  who  attended  was  between  eighty  and  ninety.  The 
teachers  were  all  volunteers  and  their  services  were  gratu- 
itous. They  came  from  all  the  churches  in  town — Episco- 
pal, Baptist,  Methodist,  and  Unitarian — without  regard  to 
denomination.  The  hours  were  from  seven  until  nine  o'clock. 
The  exercises  began  with  a  brief  address  of  from  five  to 
ten  minutes  from  persons  invited  for  the  occasion.  Minis- 
ters, lawyers,  and  merchants*  were  among  the  number  who 
interested  the  children.  One  evening  the  Unitarian  min- 
ister addressed  them ;  another  evening  the  Catholic  priest, 
for  many  Catholic  children  attended.  Rev.  Dr.  Seward, 
the  Presbyterian  clergyman,  also  delivered  an  address. 
The  laymen  who  were  also  present  and  gave  interesting 
talks  were  Messrs.  Robert  P.  Getty,  Drake,  Cleveland, 
Clapp,  and  others. 

"  The  school  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  us,  and  many 
pupils  expressed  their  gratitude  for  it.  It  was  unsectarian, 
broadly  humanitarian,  yet  endeavored  to  be  thoroughly 
Christian.    The  common  branches  were  taught.    The  open- 


THE   FIRST    UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    323 

ing  address  was  designed  to  open  the  practical  theme  of 
their  life-work  to  the  boys  and  girls. 

"  The  school  was  conducted  for  about  eighteen  months. 
Then  the  town  of  Yonkers  took  it  under  their  patronage. 
If  Hope  Church*  had  done  nothing  else  than  to  start  the 
evening  school  for  the  poor  and  toiling  children  of  Yonkers, 
she  has  done  something  to  be  remembered  with  gratitude 
by  her  citizens.  May  she  ever  be  fruitful  in  works  of 
philanthropy  and  Christian  faith.  No  interest  on  earth  is 
greater  than  the  moral  and  intellectual  and  Christian  nur- 
ture of  the  young.  If  you,  by  your  sketches,  can  fan  into 
life  a  livelier  flame,  the  love  and  zeal  of  the  disciples  of 
Christ,  in  this  great  cause,  you  will  have  done  something  to 
receive  the  blessing  of  Him  who  said,  '  Feed  my  lambs.' 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"A.  A.  LIVERMORE." 

The  seventeenth  anniversary  of  this  Sunday-school 
was  held  in  the  church  on  Sunday  evening,  June  29,  1873, 
at  which  the  audience-room  was  well  filled  with  the  scholars 
and  their  friends.  It  was  elegantly  decorated  with  flowers. 
Addresses  were  made  by  Mr.  Cromwell,  of  Brooklyn,  and 
John  E.  Williams,  of  Irvington,  and  a  beautiful  banner,  the 
gift  of  Joseph  Lamb,  of  New  York,  was  presented  by  Prof. 
D.  R.  Jaques,  of  New  York,  to  the  class — Miss  Cleveland's— 
which  had  made  the  best  average  attendance  during  the 
year. 

A  new  cabinet  Mason  and  Hamlin  organ,  costing  $250, 
has  just  been  placed  in  the  church.  It  is  a  fine  one,  the 
tones  very  sweet  and  powerful.  The  Misses  Swazy  led  the 
congregational  singing. 

The  annual  picnic  of  the  school  was  held  June  14, 
1873,  at  Dudley's  grove,  when  the  children  had  a  very 
pleasurable  time. 

The  Sunday-school  has  contributed  towards  the  en- 
dowment fund  of  the  "Cot  of  the  Ministering  Children" 
in  St.  John's  Hospital,  and  towards  the  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children.    The  school  also  assisted 

*  This  name  was  given  to  the  church  by  Rev.  Dr.  Livermore.  In  the 
certificate  of  incorporation  the  church  is  named  the  First  Unitarian  Con- 
gregational Society  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 


324  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  ladies  of  the  church  in  their  noble  work  in  connection 
with  the  Flower  and  Fruit  Mission,  which  was  begun  in 
New  York  in  May,  1869,  in  a  hall  No.  239  Fourth  Avenue, 
which  was  generously  given  and  fitted  up,  free  of  expense 
to  the  society,  for  their  headquarters,  by  the  trustees  and 
congregation  of  All  Souls'  Church.  The  earnestness  and 
fidelity  of  those  connected  with  this  church  and  Sunday- 
school  and  of  others  who  have  been  associated  with  them 
in  this  beautiful  charity  for  many  years — some  of  whom 
have  passed  away — are  well  remembered.  Though  they 
have  gone  from  our  sight  they  still  live  in  the  affectionate 
recollections  of  many. 

From  the  seventh  annual  report  of  the  Flower  and 
Fruit  Mission  is  the  following  in  regard  to  the  work  of 
the  Yonkers  friends  of  the  mission : 

"  To  our  earliest  friend,  Mrs.  Cleveland,  and  through 
her  to  the  ladies  of  Yonkers,  we  feel  especially  grateful. 
During  the  past  six  summers  they  have  sent  us  regularly 
every  week  two  large  boxes  of  flowers,  packed  so  beauti- 
fully that  they  reached  the  rooms  looking  as  fresh  as  if 
just  picked.  Rain  or  shine,  they  always  came,  and  what- 
ever else  failed,  the  Yonkers  flowers  were  always  there." 

For  more  than  twenty  years  has  Mrs.  Cleveland,  of 
the  Unitarian  church  referred  to  above,  superintended  the 
work  of  sending  flowers  twice  a  week  to  this  mission. 

The  Flower  Mission  recently  took  out  eleven  thousand 
four  hundred  and  twenty-five  bunches  of  flowers,  the  lar- 
gest number  ever  distributed  in  a  single  day.  From  forty 
to  fifty  ladies  distributed  them  in  the  worst  tenement  houses 
from  Water  Street  to  the  park,  attending  to  the  sick  at  first 
among  them. 

The  closing  session  of  the  vSunday-school  for  the  sum- 
mer season  of  1888  was  held  on  Children's  Day,  Sunday 
morning,  June  24.  The  floral  decorations  on  this  occasion 
were  in  abundance,  a  beautiful  arch  of  field  daisies  spanning 
the  pulpit,  five  feet  in  height,  the  base  of  which  rested  on 
the  pulpit  desk.  The  communion  table  with  its  crimson 
velvet  cover  strewn  with  roses,  and  the  delicate  white  blos- 
soms of  the  dutzie,  in  the  centre  of  which  stood  a  cross  of 
daisies  and  grasses,  the  windows  festooned  with  roses,  ferns, 


THE    FIRST    UNITARIAN   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH.    325 

and  trailing  vines,  and  the  baptismal  font  entwined  with 
honeysuckle  and  white  roses,  presented  a  scene  of  rare  beauty 
and  attractiveness. 

The  order  of  exercises  observed  on  this  occasion  was 
from  a  service  prepared  for  "  Children's  Sunday  "  by  Rev. 
Henry  G.  Spaulding,  and  was  entitled  "  Festival  of  Flowers." 

These  exercises  began  by  singing  of  "  Summer  Days," 
and  a  prayer  in  which  the  school  and  congregation  united 
in  concert.  Then  "  Heavenly  Shepherd,  who  art  feeding 
all  Thy  flock  with  kindest  care,"  was  sung,  after  which  the 
impressive  ordinance  of  baptism  was  administered  to  Irene 
Best,  a  member  of  the  Sunday-school.  After  this  came  a 
responsive  reading  from  Psalm  104.  The  pastor,  Rev.  James 
T.  Bixby,  read  and  there  was  a  responsive  singing  of  "  O 
all  ye  works  of  the  Lord."  Next  was  a  responsive  reading 
from  the  Song  of  Solomon,  followed  by  the  Apostles'  Creed. 
Singing,  "  In  holy  contemplation."  Responsive  reading 
from  Genesis.     Singing,  "  Hark  the  lilies  whisper." 

Sermon  by  the  pastor  from  these  words :  "  Blessed  be 
the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers  which  hath  put  such  a  thing 
as  this  in  the  king's  heart,  to  beautify  the  house  of  the  Lord 
which  is  in  Jerusalem."     Ezra  7  :  27. 

After  alluding  to  the  building  and  beauty  of  the  temple 
at  Jerusalem,  and  of  art  as  displayed  in  the  adornment  of  the 
temples  of  worship  of  the  present  day,  Air.  Bixby  in  closing 
said:  "Seek  to  make  your  hearts  fit  temples  for  the  indwell- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Strive  to  exhibit  in  your  daily 
lives  all  the  spiritual  graces.  These  flowers  which  surround 
us  in  such  abundance  are  symbols  of  God's  divine  love  and 
exhibit  his  boundless  care  for  his  creatures,  his  overflowing 
love  in  providing  so  beautiful  an  earthly  home  for  them 
to  dwell  in.  Strive  to  build  up  the  temple  of  your  charac- 
ter with  moral  beauty,  serenity,  gentleness,  faith,  and  cour- 
age, which  make  the  beauty  of  the  soul.  Learn  a  lesson 
from  the  flowers.  Consider  the  lilies,  and  seek  to  make 
your  lives  as  pure  as  they.  Keep  your  faces  upward  and 
towards  the  light.  Do  good.  Seek  not  human  applause. 
Well  do  I  recall  one  who  possessed  great  gentleness  of 
character,  who  lived  a  consecrated  life,  and  who  brought 
peace  and  good  cheer  and  brightness  into  the  lives  of  others. 


326  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

She  was  engaged  one  day,  in  her  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
way,  in  the  distribution  of  bouquets  of  flowers — thousands 
of  which  she  had  given  annually  to  the  patients  in  the 
hospitals  of  Cambridge — when  one  said  to  her,  '  What  is 
your  creed  ?'  '  To  make  everybody  as  happy  as  I  can,'  was 
her  reply." 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon  by  the  request  of  Mr.  Bixby 
the  congregation  engaged  for  a  few  moinents  in  silent 
prayer,  which  was  followed  by  a  brief  prayer  by  the  pastor, 
and  the  service  closed  by  singing  "  Lord,  dismiss  us  with 
thy  blessing,"  and  the  benediction,  after  which  bouquets  of 
flowers  were  distributed  by  the  pastor  to  the  children  of 
the  Sunday-school,  and  each  member  of  the  congregation 
also  received  a  beautiful  bouquet  of  roses,  as  a  memento  of 
the  pleasant  and  interesting  occasion. 

The  children  of  the  Unitarian  Sunday-school  met  at 
the  home  of  Miss  Herzog,  238  North  Broadway,  at  half-past 
three  on  Saturday,  Christmas,  December  22, 1888,  and  passed 
the  afternoon  by  playing  games  and  in  other  amusements. 
At  six  o'clock  a  fine  supper  was  served  which  was  greatly 
enjoyed.  A  big  pie,  containing  a  useful  gift  for  each  child, 
was  discussed  with  special  zeal.  After  supper  the  pastor, 
Rev.  Dr.  James  T.  Bixby,  presented  the  regular  gifts,  con- 
sisting of  albums,  books,  games,  toys,  and  candies. 

Miss  Sophia  Macadam,  in  connection  with  this  Sunday- 
school,  is  among  the  honorary  list  of  Sunday-school  work- 
ers in  Yonkers. 

The  following  persons,  in  the  order  of  their  service, 
have  filled  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  school  since  its 
organization  :  Mrs.  A.  A.  Livermore,  Rev.  A.  A.  Livermore, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  Joseph  May,  Miss  Elizabeth  W.  Putnam,  David 
R.  Jaques,  James  Warren,  Pelham  W.  Warren,  Henry  W. 
Jones,  Downing  Vaux,  Rev.  John  Haddaeus,  and  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  James  T.  Bixby, who  is  now  the  superintendent. 

The  secretary,  treasurer,  and  librarian  of  the  school  is 
William  Thorne,  Jr. 

The  Sunday-school  helps  used  by  the  school  are  the 
Sunday-school  Service  Book  and  Dole's  Bible  Stories.  The 
hymn  book  is  "  The  Sunny  Side,"  a  book  of  songs  for  Sun- 
dav-schools  and  families. 


ST.    PAUL'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  327 

CHAPTER   XII. 

ST.    PAUL'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1858  the  Young  Men's  Mis- 
sionary Association  of  St  John's  parish  furnished  a  room 
in  Mechanic  Street  (now  New  Main  Street)  for  holding 
mission  services.  About  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Darius  R. 
Brewer,  rector  of  Immanuel  parish,  Newport,  R.  I.,  who  was 
passing  a  few  days  with  relatives  in  Yonkers,  was  invited 
to  take  charge  of  the  mission.  He  accepted  and  entered 
upon  its  duties  on  the  first  Sunday  m  September,  1858. 

A  few  weeks  previous  to  this  date  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer 
conducted  a  service  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men's 
Association  in  a  brick  building  which  was  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  Yonkers  Savings  Bank.  This  building 
was  erected  in  1839  by  Lemuel  Wells,  and  was  the  oldest 
brick  building  in  Yonkers  with  the  exception  of  Manor 
Hall.  It  was  in  this  building  that  the  first  religious  services 
in  connection  with  St.  Paul's  Church  were  held. 

The  mission  was  so  successful  as  to  give  rise  to  the  de- 
sire for  the  organization  of  a  new  parish.  The  rector  of  St. 
John's  Church,  the  Rev.  Abraham  B.  Carter,  D.  D.,  cordially 
gave  his  canonical  consent,  and  on  the  15th  of  December, 
1858,  the  parish  was  legally  incorporated  under  the  title  of 
"  The  Rector,  Wardens,  and  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church," 
and  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  wardens  and 
vestrymen :  Henry  Anstice  and  Dr.  J.  Foster  Jenkins, 
wardens ;  Edward  W.  Candee,  S.  Emmet  Getty,  Thomas 
F.  Morris,  Williaip  Beal,  Charles  Martin,  Thomas  Furniss, 
Thomas  W.  Birdsall,  and  R.  W.  Nesbitt,  vestrymen.  Henry 
Anstice  is  the  only  remaining  one  of  the  original  founders 
of  St.  Paul's  parish  who  is  now— June,  1889 — connected 
with  it. 

"  Dr.  J.  Foster  Jenkins,  who  in  God's  providence  was 
removed  to  paradise  in  October,  1882,  was  firmly  attached 
to  the  parish  until  the  day  of  his  death,  and  gave  himself 
earnestly  to  its  interests  in  his  wise  counsel,  his  self-sacrific- 


328  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ing  labors,  his  generous  giving,  and  in  his  pure  Christian 
life.  His  name  is  most  honored  in  St.  Paul's  parish  and  his 
memory  is  blessed." 

In  the  spring  of  1859  the  Getty  Lyceum,  in  the  Getty 
House,  was  obtained  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
congregation.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  another 
removal  was  made,  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  growing  con- 
gregation, to  Farrington  Hall,  in  the  brick  building  erected 
by  Thomas  O.  Farrington  on  Getty  Square,' which  was  after- 
wards destroyed  by  fire,  January  3,  1866,  and  which  was 
replaced  by  the  Radford  (now  Hawley)  building. 

A  permanent  location  for  the  church  was  obtained  the 
same  year  by  the  purchase  of  land  on  North  Broadway,  be- 
tween Ashburton  Avenue  and  Irving  Place,  and  on  Sep. 
tember  16,  1859,  l^ss  than  one  year  after  the  organization 
of  the  parish,  the  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid, 
according  to  the  usual  form  of  the  diocese,  by  Bishop  Potter. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  rector  of  St.  George's,  New  York, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Carter,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers, 
and  the  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer,  the  rector  of  the  parish,  made 
addresses. 

The  architects  of  the  church  edifice  were  R.  Upjohn  & 
Co.  The  foundation  of  the  building  was  laid  by  Hugh  Cur- 
ran,  the  mason  work  was  done  by  Daniel  Blauvelt,  and 
the  carpenter  work  by  Ackert  &  Quick. 

The  church  was  opened  for  worship  on  Easter,  April 
8,  i860.  The  consecration  of  the  church  was  necessarily 
postponed  until  the  building  should  be  free  from  debt. 

The  Rev.  Darius  Richmond  Brewer  was  invested  with 
the  office  of  rector  of  St.  Paul's  parish  on  Sunday,  April  22, 
i860,  by  Bishop  Clark,  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  beautiful  ritual  for  the  burial  of  the  dead  was  used 
for  the  first  time  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  June  i,  i860,  when 
the  remains  of  Ellen  G.  Brewer,  the  rector's  only  daughter, 
not  quite  three  years  of  age,  were  taken  into  the  house  of 
the  Lord  to  be  borne  thence  to  the  house  appointed  for 
all  the  living. 

The  support  of  the  parish  since  its  organization  had 
been  provided  for  on  the  free  church  system,  or  the  volun- 
tary contributions  of  the  congregation.     April  14,  1862,  a 


ST.    PAUL'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  329 

meeting  of  the  male  members  of  the  congregation  was  held 
for  the  consideration  of  the  question,  "  Shall  the  means  for 
maintaining  public  worship  in  this  church  be  provided  by 
renting  the  pews  ?"  At  this  time  there  was  a  strong  party 
for  continuing  the  church  as  it  had  been  founded,  which 
promised  to  contribute  largely  to  that  end  ;  but  the  question 
was  decided  in  the  affirmative  and  the  pew-renting  system 
was  established,  and  has  ever  since  been  continued. 

This  change  in  the  mode  of  meeting  the  expenses  of 
the  church  was  approved  by  the  rector.  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer. 
The  change,  however,  was  not  carried  into  effect  until  April 
I,  1863.  This  action  appears  to  have  been  attended  by  an 
increase  of  the  congregation.  In  that  year  the  church 
building  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  south  aisle, 
whereby  the  original  design  of  the  architect  was  completed, 
and  twenty-three  pews  were  added ;  also  an  addition  was 
built  on  the  west  end  of  the  church  to  receive  a  new  organ. 
The  money  to  meet  the  cost  of  these  improvements  was 
advanced  by  Messrs.  Anstice  and  Mulford. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer, 
resigned  his  charge  on  account  of  impaired  health.  A  meet- 
ing of  the  parishioners  was  immediately  called,  at  which  a 
resolution  was  passed  asking  the  rector  to  withdraw  his  res- 
ignation and  requesting  the  vestry  to  offer  him  a  vacation 
and  continue  his  salary  during  the  same.  A  purse  of  over 
$1,200  was  made  up  by  voluntary  contributions  and  present- 
ed to  him.  Influenced  by  these  proofs  of  the  good-will  and 
affection  of  his  people,  he  decided  to  remain  if  his  health 
should  be  restored.  During  Mr.  Brewer's  indisposition  he 
was  assisted  in  the  Sunday  services  by  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr., 
who  for  a  brief  period  was  the  lay  reader,  and  subsequently 
was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter.  Mr. 
Brewer  resumed  his  duties  on  the  first  of  October,  after  an 
absence  of  four  months.  In  the  year  1865  the  debt,  amount- 
ing to  $5,000,  was  paid.  The  effort  for  this  object  was  begun 
by  the  ladies  of  the  church,  who  raised  $1,900.  The  in- 
terior of  the  church  was  greatly  improved  by  coloring  the 
walls  and  graining  the  woodwork.  A  floating  debt  of  $1 ,500 
was  also  paid.  A  little  volume  entitled  "  The  Rector's 
Offering,"  containing  selections  from  sermons  of  the  rector, 


330  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer,  was  published  by  Anson  D.  F.  Ran- 
dolph, New  York,  and  the  proceeds  of  its  sale  were  con, 
tributed  by  the.  rector  towards  this  good  work. 

The  building,  entirely  free  of  debt,  was  consecrated  to 
the  service  of  Almighty  God  on  Thursday,  December  28, 
1865,  by  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  the  Right  Rev.  Horatio 
Potter,  D.  D.,  who  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Washburn 
and  the  Revs.  Guilbert,  Dickinson,  Syle,  Hepburn,  and 
Brewer.  After  the  services  at  the  church  the  Bishop  and 
clergy,  with  the  vestrymen  and  others,  assembled  at  the 
house  of  the  rector,  No  53  Ashburton  Avenue,  where  an 
elegant  collation  had  been  prepared  by  the  ladies  of  the 
parish. 

Rev.  Mr.  Brewer  did  not  remain  long  to  enjoy  the  fruit 
of  his  labors.  His  removal  to  another  parish  he  hoped 
would  be  the  means  of  invigorating  his  health  and  impart- 
ing greater  efficiency  to  his  ministrations.  He  also  believed 
that  the  parish  had  reached  the  point  where  its  growth  and 
strength  would  be  more  successfully  promoted  by  another 
rector.  And  so  on  June  i,  1866,  he  tendered  his  resignation 
to  take  effect  on  the  last  day  of  July.  His  ministry  had 
been  most  successful.  During  his  rectorship  a  congregation 
had  been  gathered,  the  parish  had  been  organized,  a  house 
of  worship  had  been  built  and  consecrated  free  of  debt. 
He  was  much  beloved  by  his  people. 

"  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  was  the  model  pas- 
tor going  before  the  flock,  not  only  pointing  out  the  road 
to  heaven,  but  also  leading  the  way.  He  preached  by 
his  example,  by  his  daily  walk  and  conversation.  One 
could  hardly  tell  what  it  was  that  made  him  so  attractive. 
It  was  not  brilliant  talking ;  he  never  seemed  to  make  any 
special  effort  to  please ;  but  there  was  a  sort  of  quiet  mag- 
netism about  him  which  drew  others  and  made  one  feel 
that  he  was  a  friend  worth  having. 

"  Mr.  Brewer  possessed  in  a  rare  degree  the  real  gift 
of  sympathy.  It  did  not  show  itself  in  gushing  words  and 
violent  protestations,  but  in  those  gentle  acts  of  kindness 
that  are  precious  to  one  who  feels  that  the  hand  of  God  is 
laid  heavily  upon  him,  and  as  he  went  from  house  to  house 
ministering  to  the  poor,  supplying  both  their  temporal  and 


ST.    PAULS   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  33I 

their  spiritual  wants,  comforting  the  bereaved  in  their  afflic- 
tion, talking  to  the  dying  of  Him  who  went  down  to  the 
grave  to  rob  death  of  its  sting  and  the  grave  of  its  victory, 
and  leading  the  burdened  sinner  to  the  blessed  Saviour, 
who  said  '  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest,'  gath- 
ering the  children  around  his  feet  and  making  their  eyes 
glisten  with  his  bright  and  cheery  words — thus  it  was  that 
he  found  his  way  into  the  hearts  of  his  people." 

"  There  was  never  any  doubt  as  to  his  position  on 
any  question,  which  was  always  clearly  defined." 

In  a  local  paper  occurs  the  following  paragraph  in  re- 
gard to  a  sermon  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer  during 
the  troublous  times  in  our  late  civil  war.  The  writer  says : 
"  Although  differing  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer  in  our  polit- 
ical views,  he  has,  during  his  residence  among  us,  in  all 
places  and  at  all  times  proven  himself  to  be  a  truly  refined 
and  courteous  gentleman  as  well  as  a  faithful  and  assiduous 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  There  are  few  men  whom 
we  have  more  delight  to  honor."  At  that  time  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brewer  was  the  first  clergyman  who  took  an  active  part  in 
Yonkers  in  the  raising  of  funds  for  the  United  States  Sani- 
tary Commission,  and  was  also  among  the  first  of  the  citi- 
zens to  unfurl  the  stars  and  stripes  from  the  flagstaff  which 
he  erected  himself  on  the  rectory  of  St.  Paul's. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer  died  in  the  rectorship  of  Christ 
Church  at  Westerly,  R.  I.,  March  18,  i88l 

The  parish  register  from  the  time  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer 
commenced  his  labors,  in  September,  1858,  until  January, 
1866,  gives  these  statistics:  Baptisms,  106;  confirmations, 
57  ;  admitted  to  the  Holy  Communion,  256  ;  marriages,  46; 
burials,  60. 

The  Rev.  Uriah  T.  Tracy  succeeded  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brewer 
as  rector  of  the  parish,  October,  1 866,  and  resigned  July,  1 869. 
After  a  vacancy  of  two  months  the  Rev.  S.  G.  Fuller  was 
elected  as  rector  of  the  parish.  In  February,  1871,  he 
resigned  to  become  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  where  he  died  a  few  years  after.  The  Rev. 
David  F.  Banks  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  the  parish 
in  April,  1871.  After  a  ministry  of  about  five  years  he 
resigned.      He  died   at  his  home  in   Connecticut.      The 


332  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Rev.  Mr.  Banks  was  assisted  for  one  year  by  the  Rev.  Ar- 
thur Sloan.  The  Rev.  C.  Maurice  Wines  succeeded  Mr. 
Banks  as  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  and  entered  upon  his 
charge  on  Sunday,  May  i,  1876.  He  resigned  in  October, 
1879. 

The  Rev.  William  Hammond  Mills,  D.  D.,  the  present 
rector  of  St.  Paul's,  was  born  in  Newton,  Mass.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1849,  ^.nd 
studied  theology  with  Bishop  Henshaw,  of  the  same  city. 
He  was  admitted  into  the  order  of  deacon  by  Bishop  Hen- 
shaw, in  Grace  Church,  Providence,  July  i,  1852,  and  into 
the  order  of  the  priesthood,  in  the  same  church,  by  Bishop 
Williams  of  Connecticut,  August  30,  1853.  Dr.  Mills  was 
called  to  his  first  charge  as  rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Mauton, 
R.  I.,  where  he  continued  for  eight  years,  and  then  became 
rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Messiah,  in  Providence,  remain^ 
ing  less  than  two  years.  In  November,  1 860,  he  became 
rector  of  St.  Mary's,  Dorchester,  Mass.,  where  he  remained 
for  fourteen  years,  and  in  1874  removed  to  Erie,  Pa.,  and 
was  rector  of  St.  Paul's  in  that  city  for  nearly  six  years. 
He  became  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Yonkers,  February  i,  1880. 

Rev.  Dr.  Mills  is  known  as  a  faithful  and  assiduous 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  our  blessed  Lord.  During  his 
rectorship  St.  Paul's  Church  has  greatly  increased  in  mem- 
bership, and  the  present  spiritual  and  temporal  prosperity 
of  the  church  is  due  largely  to  his  energy,  fearlessness,  and 
tireless  activity.  His  characteristics  as  a  man  and  as  a 
Christian  pastor  are  summed  up  in  these  four  words — ear- 
nestness, constancy,  unselfishness,  and  fidelity.  Dr.  Mills 
has  not  only  the  loving  regard  of  the  members  of  his  own 
church  and  congregation,  but  that  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  outside  of  his  own  parish,  who  esteem  him  for  his 
faithful  and  energetic  labors  for  the  Master. 

When  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mills  entered  upon  the  rectorship  of 
St.  Paul's  parish  the  indebtedness  of  the  church  was  $5,000, 
which  had  been  incurred  since  the  consecration  of  the 
church  in  1865,  to  meet  its  annual  expenses.  During  his 
rectorship  the  floating  debt  of  about  $2,000  has  been  paid, 
and  the  yearly  expenses  of  the  church  have  been  prompt- 
ly met.     Provision  was  also  made  for  the  mortgage  debt, 


ST.   PAUL'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  333 

which  is  being  paid  at  the  rate  of  $1,000  per  year.  There 
is  no  other  debt  upon  the  church  property. 

The  interior  of  the  church  has  been  greatly  improved 
by  the  addition  of  a  new  and  much  larger  and  more  con- 
venient chancel,  which  was  removed  from  the  east  to  the 
west  end  of  the  auditorium.  A  new  Sunday-school  room 
has  also  been  added,  with  a  library  room  and  a  guild  room, 
and  extensive  repairs  were  made  in  the  old  building.  The 
cost  of  these  improvements  was  $7,000.  The  church  was 
opened  for  service,  after  the  last  improvements,  on  Sunday, 
November  20,  1887,  when  an  appropriate  sermon,  from 
Psalm  26:8,  on  "the  love  of  God's  house,"  was  preached 
by  the  rector. 

A  bazaar  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  was  held  at "  Sunny 
Bank,"  Locust  Hill  Avenue,  for  three  days,  beginning  Mon- 
day, April  22,  1889.  The  decorations  were  an  attractive 
feature  of  this  fair.  The  young  ladies  in  attendance  were 
dressed  in  peasant  costumes  of  different  countries.  The 
St.  Agnes  Guild  had  a  very  attractive  table  and  was  one  of 
the  prettiest  features  of  the  bazaar.  The  art  room  also  at- 
tracted much  attention.  The  various  committees  filled 
their  respective  places  with  dignity  and  grace.  This  was 
the  first  fair  held  by  St.  Paul's  parish,  and  was  in  every 
way  a  great  success :  $900  were  realized  therefrom  and  ap- 
plied to  the  liquidation  of  the  debt  of  the  church. 

A  brief  centennial  service  of  praise  was  held  in  St. 
Paul's  Church  on  Monday,  April  29,  1889,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mills, 
rector  of  the  church,  conducting  it.  This  service  was  ap- 
pointed by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter. 

St.  Paul's  Church  is  the  parent  of  the  prosperous  Christ 
Episcopal  Church  of  this  city.  In  February,  1871,  the  cor- 
dial sanction  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  was  given  for  the 
organization  of  another  parish  in  the  town  of  Yonkers, 
now  known  as  Christ  parish. 

St.  Paul's  Church  has  always  been  distinguished  for  its 
liberal  giving  and  for  its  power  to  rise  above  discourage- 
ment. Its  people  are  now  interested  and  are  earnestly 
engaged  in  Christian  work.  It  has  excellent  material  and 
many  elements  of  strength,  and  has  before  it,  if  true  to 
its  object,  a  career  of  great  usefulness.     There  are   con- 


334  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

nected  with  the  church  several  societies,  viz :  the  "  Wo- 
men's AuxiHary  to  the  General  Missionary  Society,"  the 
"  Parochial  Society,"  the  "  Saint  Agnes  Guild,"  and  the 
"Girls'  Friendly  Society."  It  also  has  an  industrial  school, 
which  is  efficiently  carried  on  by  the  rector's  wife  and 
members  of  the  parish.  A  very  successful  mothers'  meet- 
ing has  been  held  by  Mrs.  Mills  for  a  number  of  years, 
which  has  been  productive  of  great  good  to  those  who 
attended  it. 

The  Yonkers  "  Nursery  and  Home,"  which  has  become 
one  of  the  most  beneficent  and  useful  public  institutions 
in  the  city,  was  founded  by  Mrs.  J.  H.  Clark,  who  was  a 
member  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  and  who  promised  to  be  re- 
sponsible for  the  rent  of  rooms  for  the  purpose  proposed. 
It  was  opened  in  a  small  house  on  Carlisle  Place,  near  the 
factories,  on  St.  Paul's  Day,  January  25,  1881.  A  little  boy 
named  Paul  entered  on  that  day  as  its  first  boarder.  The 
plan  of  its  founder  was  to  provide  a  place  where  children 
too  young  to  go  to  school  might  be  safely  left  and  cared 
for  while  the  mother  was  away  from  home  at  her  day's 
work. 

On  the  first  of  May,  about  four  months  from  the  open- 
ing, the  nursery  was  removed  to  a  house  finely  located  on 
the  corner  of  Ashburton  and  Palisade  Avenues,  and  a 
home  for  old  women  was  provided,  and  it  soon  came,  by 
common  consent,  to  be  called  the  "  Nursery  and  Home." 
Three  hundred  and  twenty -five  children  under  eight  years 
of  age  have  been  received  as  its  inmates  since  its  organ- 
ization. The  Rev.  Dr.  Mills,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  has 
always  taken  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  its  prosperity 
and  continues  so  to  do.  For  several  years  he  always  pre- 
sided at  the  monthly  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

This  charitable  institution  was  incorporated  in  May, 
1884,  under  the  title  of  "The  Yonkers  Nursery  and  Home." 
The  following  persons  were  the  incorporators :  the  Rev.  W. 
H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  Dr.  Samuel  Swift,  E.  M.  Le  Moyne,  Chas. 
W.  Seymour,  S.  E.  Simonds,  Mrs.  John  H.  Clark,  Mrs.  O.  E. 
Hosmer,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Brereton,  and  Mrs.  H.  G.  McDonald. 

Its  officers  are,  President,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.; 
Vice-President,  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Carver ;   Secretary,  Thomas 


ST.    PAULS   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  335 

G.  Hillliouse ;  Treasurer,  Henry  A.  Smith ;  Auditing  Com- 
mittee, Jacob  R.  Reese,  Thomas  G.  Hillhouse. 

Board  of  Trustees,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  the 
Rev.  A.  B.  Carver,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Brereton,  Mrs.  H.  G.  Mc- 
Donald, Jacob  R.  Reese,  Henry  A.  Smith,  Thomas  G.  Hill- 
house,  Allen  L.  Smidt,  J.  Halsey  Curtis. 

Officers  of  the  Board  of  Managers  are :  President,  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D. ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  Foster  Jen- 
kins ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  H.  G.  McDonald ;  House  Mother, 
Mrs.  Ellen  Dundas.  Board  of  Managers :  Mrs.  A.  M.  Bre- 
reton, Mrs.  W.  H.  Mills,  Mrs.  H.  G.  McDonald,  Miss  L.  R. 
Brereton,  Miss  F.  M.  Middleton,  Mrs.  J.  Foster  Jenkins, 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Curtis,  Mrs.  Isabella  E.  Burnham,  Mrs.  August 
Ulmann,  Mrs.  Jay  C.  Smith,  Mrs.  V.  P.  Humason,  Miss 
Edith  E.  Belknap,  Mrs.  Edward  Tatum,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Carver. 
Dr.  Samuel  Swift  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Benedict,  consulting  phy- 
sicans.     Dr.  Henry  Moffat,  attending  physician. 

The  church  has  also  a  "  Helping  Hand  Society." 

The  rectors  of  St.  Paul's  Church  since  its  organization 
have  been:  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer,  from  January  11,  1859,  to 
July  31,  1866;  Rev.  U.  T.  Tracy,  from  October  i,  1866,  to 
October  4,  1869  ;  Rev.  S.  G.  Fuller,  from  December  9,  1869, 
to  February  i,  1871  ;  Rev.  D.  F.  Banks,  from  April  21, 
1 87 1,  to  January  31,  1876;  Rev.  C.  Maurice  Wines,  from 
May  2,  1876,  to  October  27,  1879;  Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D., 
from  February  i,  1880,  to  date. 

The  parish  register,  at  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of 
the  church,  1883,  gives  the  following  statistics:  baptisms, 
414;  confirmations,  261  ;  marriages,  no;  burials,  220;  pres- 
ent number  of  communicants,  216. 

PAROCHIAL   STATISTICS   SEPTEMBER    I,   189O. 

Number  of  souls 503 

Baptisms 30 

Confirmed 13 

Marriages      .--- 2 

Burials 19 

Communicants     - 232 

Expenditures.    Total  for  all  objects,  1S90,  |8,oio  96. 

The  officers  of  the  church  are :  William  H.  C.  Bartlett 
and  W.  Delevan  Baldwin,  wardens ;  J.  Foster  Jenkins,  A. 


336  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

• 

P.  W.  Kinnan,  Robert  H.  Neville,  J.  W.  Clark,  Jr.,  A.  L. 
Walker,  Charles  P.  Easton,  J.  Halsey  Curtis,  and  W.  J. 
Wright,  vestrymen.  The  clerk  of  the  vestry,  A.  L.  Walker ; 
the  treasurer,  J.  Foster  Jenkins. 

The  number  of  communicants  in  St.  Paul's  to  the  pres- 
ent date,  1 89 1,  is  240  ;  number  of  souls,  520. 

The  following  are  the  officers  and  members  of  the 
Altar  Society  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  January,  1890:  Mrs.  H. 
McDonald,  President ;  Miss  S.  C.  Miller,  Secretary  ;  Miss 
Helen  R.  Croes,  Treasurer. 

The  communion  service  is  of  solid  silver,  and  consists 
of  a  flagon,  two  chalices,  paten,  and  service  plate.  On  the 
flagon  is  inscribed  :  "  Ladies  of  the  Prescott  Seminary  to 
Saint  Paul's  Church,  Yonkers,"  and  the  Scripture  verse,  in 
old  English :  "  On  earth  peace,  good-will  to  men."  The 
service  plate  has  the  following  inscription :  "  The  gift  of 
Mrs.  Charlotte  vS.  Brewer."  In  the  centre  is  the  monogram 
"  I.  H.  S.,"  and  on  the  border,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy.  Lord  God 
of  Hosts."  The  paten  bears  this  inscription :  "  The  gift 
of  Mary  Rhinelander  Stewart  to  St.  Paul's  Church.  '  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest.'  "  The  chalices  bear  the  following 
inscriptions :  "  The  gift  of  Mary  Rhinelander  Stewart.  '  I 
will  receive  the  cup  of  salvation.'  "  "  The  gift  of  Catherine 
D.  Spalding  to  St.  Paul's  Church.  '  And  I  will  call  upon  the 
name  of  the  Lord.'  " 

The  pulpit  Bible  is  from  the  Cambridge  Press.  It  is 
elegantly  bound  in  red  morocco  and  was  the  gift  of  the 
ladies  of  the  church.  On  the  altar  service  books  is  in- 
scribed: "  Given  Easter,  1883.  St.  Paul's  Church."  On  the 
baptismal  font,  which  is  of  white  marble,  is  inscribed  these 
words  :  "  By  one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one  body." 
The  recipient  alms  basin,  which  is  of  gold,  bears  the 
inscription  :  "  To  St.  Paul's  Church,  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  Easter, 
1883.  In  loving  memory  of  Charlotte  Louise  Jackson."  In 
the  centre  of  the  basin  on  a  large  star  is  the  monogram 
"  I.  H.  S."  On  the  border  is  inscribed  :  "  The  Lord  remem- 
ber all  thine  offerings."  On  the  alms  basins,  which  are  of 
silver,  are  these  inscriptions  :  on  the  one  :  "  Ladies  of  Pres- 
cott Seminary  to  St.  Paul's  Church.  '  He  that  soweth  plen- 
teously  shall  reap  plenteously,'  "  which  sentence  is  placed 


ST.    PAUL'S    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  337 

between  two  Greek  crosses.  And  on  the  centre  is  the 
monogram  "  I.  H.  S."  And  on  the  other  :  "  Gift  of  Mary 
Anstice  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  Yonkers.  '  Give  alms  of  thy 
goods  and  never  turn  thy  face  from  any  poor  man,' " 
between  two  Greek  crosses,  and  the  monogram  "I.  H.  S." 

The  handsome  windows  in  the  chancel,  representing 
"  Luke,  the  beloved  physician,"  "  Saint  Elizabeth  of  Hun- 
gary," and  "the  conversion  of  St.  Paul,"  which  forms 
the  centre  of  the  group,  were  erected  in  memory  of  J. 
Foster  Jenkins,  M.  D.,  and  his  wife  by  their  friends.  Un- 
derneath the  first  two  mentioned  is  inscribed  :  "  May,  1885, 
October,  1882,"  They  are  rich  in  design  and  were  made 
in  London,  England,  by  Messrs.  Eaton,  Baine  &  Butler. 

The  brass  memorial  cross  on  the  re-table  was  presented 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Seymour.  On  it  is  inscribed  : 
"  In  loving  memory  of  our  son,  Charles  Holmes  Seymour  ; 
baptized  August  30,  1868;  confirmed  June  7,  1882  ;  entered 
into  rest  September  i6,  1883.  '  Glory  be  to  the  Father  and 
to  the  Son  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen.'  "  In  the  centre 
of  the  cross  is  the  monogram  "  I.  H.  S." 

The  brass  altar  desk  bears  this  inscription  :  "  In  me- 
moriam.  Helen  Robertson  Croes.  Presented  by  her  chil- 
dren, 1885."  In  the  centre  is  a  star  upon  which  is  inscribed 
"  I.  H.  S." 

A  recent  gift  are  the  brass  altar  flower  vases,  given  in 
memory  of  S.  Howard  Howes,  Jr.,  who  entered  into  life 
everlasting  on  the  evening  of  February  15,  1889.  They  bear 
this  inscription :  "  In  memoriam.  S.  Howard  Howes,  Jr., 
February  15,  1889.     I.  H.  S." 

In  1876  a  choir  of  men  and  boys  was  established  by 
Mr.  Le  Jeune.  It  subsequently  was  under  the  direction  of 
Edward  P.  Chase,  who  for  a  number  of  years  served  the 
church  as  its  organist  most  efficiently  and  acceptably.  Mr. 
Chase  was  succeeded  by  Alfred  W.  Griffin,  who  received 
his  first  as  well  as  his  more  advanced  instruction  from 
Prof.  Chase.  Mr.  Griffin  served  five  years.  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Edmonston  is  the  present  organist  and  director.  The 
music  is  led  by  a  boy  choir  of  thirty  voices. 

Sunday  services  at  St.  Paul's  Church  are  at  10:45  A.  M. 
and  4  P.  M.     The  communion,  first  Sunday  of  each  month. 

SunJay-school  Work.  22 


338  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  church  is  between  six 
hundred  and  seven  hundred. 

William  Nugent,  sexton,  has  served  the  church  in  that 
capacity  efficiently  since  January,  1882. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

St.  Paul's  Sunday-school  owes  its  establishment  largely 
to  the  efforts  of  Henry  Anstice,  senior  warden  of  the 
church,  by  whom  it  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1858. 

Mr.  Anstice  was  appointed  superintendent  by  the  rec- 
tor, the  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer,  and  was  assisted  by  the  follow- 
ing teachers :  William  Beal,  Henry  Beal,  John  N.  Stearns, 
Edward  Martin,  Mr.  Oakley,  William  Woodworth,  Miss 
Davids,  Miss  Kate  Woodworth,  Miss  Annie  Anstice,  Miss 
Clara -Pettie,  and  the  Misses  Atkins. 

The  first  session  of  the  school  was  held  in  Humboldt 
Hall,  opposite  the  Getty  House,  in  Mechanic  Street,  now 
New  Main  Street. 

In  the  spring  of  1859  the  school  removed  to  a  hall  in 
the  Getty  House.  In  its  early  days  it  was  largely  a  mis- 
sion school  in  its  character,  gathering  in  many  who  did  not 
attend  any  Sunday-school.  It  numbered  the  first  year  one 
hundred  scholars. 

In  the  autumn  of  1859  i^  ^^^  removed  to  Farrington 
Hall,  Getty  Square,  and  occupied  that  hall  until  it  was 
removed  to  the  new  church  in  the  spring  of  i860. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  year  the  number  of 
pupils  increased  to  nearly  two  hundred.  After  the  second 
year  the  numbers  decreased  considerably,  owing  to  the  re- 
moval of  teachers  and  the  establishment  of  other  Sunday- 
schools  in  the  town. 

After  its  removal  to  the  new  church  edifice,  the  Sun- 
day-school increased  in  numbers  and  in  influence.  A  Sun- 
day-school library  was  gathered  in  response  to  an  appeal 
from  the  rector  from  the  pulpit,  who  requested  the  children 
to  bring  their  own  books  for  the  foundation  of  the  library. 
The  children  of  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Johnston  donated  one 
hundred  volumes,  nearly  all  the  books  being  received 
from  their  respective  teachers,  either  in  Sunday  or  day- 
school.     Some   of  them  were  also  books  which  had  been 


ST.    PAUL'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH,  339 

given  them  on  Christmas.  Others  in  the  congregation  re- 
sponded willingly  and  liberally,  and  by  this  means  quite  a 
handsome  library  was  procured  for  the  Sunday-school 
without  expense.     The  school  now  became  self-supporting. 

The  first  singing  book  used  by  the  school  was  "  Sabbath 
Bells,"  by  William  Bradbury,  and  the  Sunday-school  paper 
distributed  was  the  "Sunday-school  Banner,"  published  by 
the  American  Sunday-school  Union. 

The  interesting  little  daughter  of  Edward  and  Harriet 
Johnston,  who  was  a  member  of  the  primary  class  of  this 
school,  and  who  took  special  interest  in  contributing  books 
for  the  library,  was  very  suddenly  summoned  to  the  "  Happy 
Land  "  which  she  loved  to  talk  and  sing  about.  A  tender, 
impressive,  and  large  funeral  was  held  in  St.  John's  Church, 
on  Saturday,  April  28,  i860.  The  members  of  St.  Paul's 
and  St.  John's  Schools  attended  in  a  body,  and  of  the  class 
in  the  day  school  of  which  she  was  a  loved  member.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Carter,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  and  the  Rev. 
D.  R.  Brewer,  her  own  rector,  officiated. 

The  Sunday-school  for  nine  years  numbered  from  175 
to  200.     In  1865  it  numbered  265. 

The  school  has  enjoyed  many  pleasant  hours  spent  in 
Frederick  Shonnard's  woods.  One  picnic,  held  there  on 
Tuesday,  August  25,  1868,  will  long  be  remembered  with 
pleasure.  "  The  day  was  gloriously  fine.  A  gentleman 
who  had  occasion  to  watch  the  weather  indications  observed 
that  there  had  been  but  two  such  days  since  April.  The 
school  assembled  at  the  church  at  nine  o'clock.  At  ten 
o'clock  they  started  for  a  straw  ride  in  five  large  wagons. 
The  first  of  these  carried  their  beautiful  school  banner, 
designed  and  made  especially  for  them  by  Capt.  E.  W. 
Jenkins,  and  the  last  wagon  carried  the  stars  and  stripes. 
Accompanying  them  were  the  rector,  the  Rev.  U.  T.  Tracy, 
and  the  superintendent,  Charles  W.  Seymour,  and  a  large 
representation  of  the  teachers  and  ladies  of  the  congre- 
gation. After  a  charming  ride,  which  was  enlivened  by  the 
glad  notes  of  their  young,  tuneful  voices,  awakening  the 
echoes  of  the  green  fields  and  harvest-laden  country  as  they 
proceeded  merrily  on  their  way,  they  shaped  their  course 
to  some  woods  belonging  to  Mr.  Shonnard,  which  he  had 


340  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

generously  and  kindly  placed  at  their  disposal  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  where  a  collation  was  supplied  by  the  ladies  of 
the  church  and  parents  of  the  children,  which  was  speedily 
spread  out  in  a  cool,  shady,  and  mossy  spot.  After  enjoying 
themselves  among  the  woodlands  and  with  various  games, 
in  which  some  of  the  older  persons  united,  at  four  o'clock 
they  started  for  home,  returning  about  five  o'clock,  P.  m., 
well  pleased  with  their  day  of  rare  enjoyment,  not  a  single 
thing  occurring  to  mar  the  pleasure  of  their  trip." 

Another  picnic  held  by  the  school  was  at  lona  Island 
on  the  Hudson  River. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1868  was  held  in  the  church 
on  Tuesday  evening,  at  6 :  30  o'clock.  At  the  entrance  of  the 
chancel  and  facing  the  centre  aisle  stood  the  Christmas  tree, 
charmingly  ornamented  with  gifts  for  the  scholars.  Its 
beauty  was  enhanced  by  skilful  manipulation  of  the  cal- 
cium light  with  which  it  was  illuminated,  causing  it  to 
assume  a  variety  of  colors.  The  care  which  had  been  taken 
in  the  dressing  of  the  tree  was  anything  but  lost  in  the 
effect  which  its  beautiful  appearance  produced.  Carols 
were  sung  by  the  scholars.  The  rector,  the  Rev.  U.  T.  Tracy, 
addressed  the  children,  as  did  also  the  superintendent, 
Charles  W.  Seymour.  The  exercises  closed  with  the  singing 
of  the  recessional  carol,  and  old  and  young  were  seemingly 
well  pleased  with  the  evening's  entertainment. 

The  following  is  a  printed  statistical  report  of  St.  Paul's 
School  in  the  centennial  year,  December,  1876:  Officers,  4; 
teachers,  17  ;  scholars  on  register,  212  ;  average  attendance, 
160;  largest  attendance,  200;  number  in  primary  depart- 
ment, 68;  volumes  in  library,  600;  receipts,  $550 ;  expen- 
ditures, $548.  Chas.  W.  Seymour,  Superintendent ;  J.  P. 
Williams,  Secretary  ;  George  lies.  Librarian  ;  Thomas  Bre- 
reton,  Assistant  Librarian  ;  Mrs.  D.  F.  Banks,  teacher  of  Bi- 
ble class ;  Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Pitman,  Mrs.  Orphen,  Mrs.  Sear- 
cey,  Mrs.  Chandler,  Miss  M.  Curran,  Miss  Middleton,  Miss 
Brereton,  Miss  Julia  Ritter,  Miss  Belle  Runk,  Miss  Mary 
McCoy,  Miss  Getty,  Miss  E.  Getty,  J.  P.  Wells,  J.  McCoy, 
and  Mr.  Orphen,  teachers. 

The  Young  Men's  Guild  connected  with  St.  Paul's 
Church  and  Sunday-school  was  organized  March  16,  1886. 


ST.    PAUL'S    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  34I 

Its  object  is  to  promote  the  spiritual,  intellectual,  and  social 
benefit  of  its  members  and  interest  them  in  the  work  of 
the  parish.  The  officers  of  the  Guild,  February,  1889,  were  : 
Charles  Philip  Easton,  President ;  Wm.  J.  Wright,  Vice- 
President  ;  Wm.  J.  Moore,  Secretary ;  Upson  Van  Varick. 
Treasurer. 

The  Young  Men's  Guild  sustained  a  severe  loss  by  the 
sudden  removal  by  death  of  one  of  its  members,  S.  Howard 
Howes,  Jr.,  on  February  15,  1889.  Mr.  Howes  was  a  youth 
of  excellent  Christian  character,  and  a  most  useful  and 
efficient  member  of  the  Guild.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him.  It  was  a  large  and  tender  funeral  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  February  23,  1889,  in  St.  Paul's  Church, 
all  sorrowing  because  they  should  see  his  face  no  more. 
About  forty  of  his  fellow  railroad  attaches  at  Forty-second 
Street  came  to  Yonkers  in  a.  body  and  attended  the  funeral, 
bringing  with  them  a  floral  broken  column.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Mills,  his  rector,  officiated. 

A  meeting  of  the  young  men  of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church  was  held  in  the  Guild  room  Thursday 
evening,  September  26,  1 889,  at  which  the  parish  Guild  was 
reorganized  upon  a  new  basis.  The  Rev.  Dr.  W.  H.  Mills 
presided.  A  Constitution  was  adopted,  and  the  following 
officers  elected :  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mills,  President ;  Charles  P. 
Easton,  Vice-President ;  Wm.  J.  Moore,  Secretary  ;  Wm.  J. 
Wright,  Treasurer.  Meetings  of  the  organization  are  held 
on  the  first,  second,  and  fourth  Thursdays  in  each  month. 

St.  Paul's  Church  and  Sunday-school  has  also  a  young 
women's  guild  which  is  called  the  "  St.  Agnes  Guild,"  and 
which  was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1880.  It  is  man- 
aged by  a  committee  of  ladies  from  the  Parochial  Society. 
Mrs.  J.  Q.  A.  Johnson,  Mrs.  W.  H.  King,  and  Mrs.  Val- 
entine Marsh  are  the  managers.  The  first  M^ork  of  the  St. 
Agnes  Guild  was  to  make  clothing  for  the  needy  children 
of  the  "  Yonkers  Nursery  and  Home,"  and  since  to  do 
other  missionary  work  connected  with  the  parish  under 
the  direction  of  the  managers.  The  present  officers  of  St, 
Agnes'  Guild  are :  Mrs.  J.  Q.  A.  Johnson,  President  and 
Chairman  of  Committees;  Miss  W.  H.  King,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer. 


342  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  Christmas  festival  for  1887  was  held  on  Thursday 
evening  in  the  church  as  usual.  The  children  with  the 
teachers  entered  the  church  from  the  basement  singing 
the  processional,  "Christ  is  born."  After  an  address  by 
the  rector,  Rev.  W.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  and  the  singing  of  the 
carol,  "  Joyfully,  joyfully,  silvery  clear,"  the  rector,  assisted 
by  the  superintendent,  W.  J.  Wright,  distributed  the  gifts 
to  the  pupils. 

The  presentation  of  a  fine  etching,  representing  one  of 
the  beautiful  paths  leading  to  Christ  College,  England,  by 
the  superintendent,  Mr.  Wright,  in  behalf  of  the  teachers, 
to  the  rector,  was  a  pleasant  feature  of  the  celebration.  A 
beautiful  Christmas  tree,  made  still  more  beautiful  by  the 
calcium  light,  carols  well  sung,  and  the  happy  faces  of 
the  children,  made  a  very  bright  setting  for  the  joyous  occa- 
sion. 

The  teacher  of  the  young  ladies'  Bible-class,  which 
numbered  at  one  time  from  twelve  to  fifteen  young  ladies, 
is  Miss  Mary  A.  Neilson.  This  class,  assisted  by  others, 
held  a  fair  on  April  18,  1888,  the  proceeds  of  which  were 
given  towards  providing  a  home  in  the  country  for  a  number 
of  poor  children  during  part  of  the  heated  term.  This  is  a 
private  charity  undertaken  by  Miss  Neilson,  who  is  assisted 
by  some  of  her  personal  friends  who  have  been  engaged  in 
this  benevolent  v/ork  for  five  years.  This  fair  was  under 
the  direction  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Swift,  Mrs.  J.  Fowler  Trow, 
Mrs.  Stephen  H.  Thayer,. Jr.,  Miss  M.  A.  Neilson,  Miss 
L.  G.  Crocker,  and  Miss  H.  HoUister.  It  was  a  great  suc- 
cess, financially  and  socially,  about  $300  clear  of  expenses 
being  realized. 

The  primary  department  of  this  school  was  taught  by 
Miss  Florilla  Wells  Johnston  (now  Mrs.  F.  W.  Thomas) 
very  successfully  for  more  than  fifteen  years.  It  numbered 
between  forty  and  fifty  pupils.  The  efficient  superintend- 
ent of  the  department  now  is  the  rector's  wife,  Mrs  William 
H.  Mills,  who  has  had  charge  of  it  for  five  years.  It  meets 
in  a  small  room  adjoining  the  main  Sunday-school  room, 
and  numbers  thirty-five  pupils.  Instruction  is  given  from 
the  "  Christian  Primer  for  Little  Ones."  The  Command- 
ments, Creed,  and  the  Lord's  Prayer  are  also  taught.     The 


ST.    PAUL  S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCfL  343 

contributions  of  this  class  are  given  to  the  general  funds  of 
the  Sunday-school. 

At  the  Christmas  festival  held  Friday  evening,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1889,  a  full  choral  service  was  rendered:  organist 
Alfred  Griffin  and  a  chorus  of  eighteen  boys  and  ten  young 
gentlemen  composing  the  excellent  choir.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Mills,  the  rector,  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Forbes. 

Appropriate  addresses  were  made  by  Dr.  Mills,  and 
the  Superintendent,  Charles  P.  Easton. 

There  was  a  beautiful  Christmas  tree,  illuminated  with 
calcium  lights,  and  the  scholars  were  made  happy  with 
handsome  gifts  of  books,  games,  toys,  fruits,  and  cornu- 
copias of  candy. 

The  rector  received  a  handsome  book  from  the  teach- 
ers of  the  school. 

There  is  also  a  branch  of  the  King's  Daughters  called 
the  Wayside  Workers'  Branch,  which  is  composed  of  some 
of  the  members  of  the  young  ladies'  Bible-class  and  which  is 
also  under  the  direction  of  Miss  M.  A.  Neilson.  This  branch 
gave  an  entertainment,  which  consisted  of  tableaux  and 
vocal  music,  at  Music  Hall,  March  2,  1.889,  which  was  under 
the  management  of  several  prominent  Yonkers  ladies  and 
George  B.  Bartlett.  The  proceeds  were  given  to  Miss 
M.  A.  Neilson's  annual  summer  work  of  taking  destitute 
children  into  the  country.  The  members  of  the  Way- 
side Workers  are  also  doing  excellent  work  in  other  direc- 
tions. 

The  Easter  festival  of  1889  was  observed  with  appro- 
priate exercises  in  the  church  on  Sunday  afternoon.  The 
children  and  teachers  marched  from  the  Sunday-school 
room  into  the  church  singing  the  processional  carol. 
They  were  preceded  by  the  members  of  the  choir,  one  of 
whom  carried  a  beautiful  floral  cross,  which  was  placed  in 
the  choir.  Brief  remarks  were  made  by  the  rector,  Dr. 
Mills. 

An  interesting  feature  of  that  festival  was  the  presen- 
tation to  the  children  of  the  Sunday-school,  by  their  super- 
intendent, Charles  Philip  Easton,  of  centennial  certificates. 
"  These  certificates  were  issued  that  year  by  the  Domestic 


344  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  were  given  to  each  member  of  the  Sunday-school  in  the 
church  as  a  reminder  that  they,  as  baptized  members  of 
the  church,  are  declared  to  be  members  of  the  Domestic  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  church,  and  therefore 
are  bound  to  support  its  work.  The  especial  reason  for 
issuing  the  certificate  that  year  was  because  it  was  a  hundred 
years  since  the  church  was  organized  in  America  and  the 
centennial  General  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church — 
which  convention  assembles  once  in  every  three  years.  For 
this  reason  it  was  called  a  centennial  certificate,  and  is  to  be 
kept  as  a  memento  of  the  centennial  birth  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  of  our  country."  The  whole  number  of  centen- 
nial certificates  issued  to  children  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  Sunday-schools  was  190,500.  St.  Paul's  Sunday- 
school  was  well  represented  in  this  grand  missionary  offer- 
ing of  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

A  part  of  the  Lenten  offering  on  Easter  day  was  also 
appropriated  for  decorating  the  walls  of  their  Sunday- 
school  room  and  for  procuring  new  furniture  for  it.  When 
these  improvements  are  made,  their  Sunday-school  room 
will  be  as  pleasant  an,d  attractive  an  any  in  the  city. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Croes  has  been  connected  with  St.  Paul's 
Sunday-school  for  seventeen  years,  and  is  among  the  hon- 
orary list  of  Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

This  Sunday-school  supported  a  pupil  in  Bishop  Tut- 
tle's  school  in  Utah  for  five  years. 

A  fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  Sunday-school  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  Miss  Lucy  G.  Crocker,  187  North  Broad- 
way, April  3,  1889.  A  beautiful  organ  and  a  fine  library 
consisting  of  five  hundred  volumes  was  purchased  with  the 
proceeds  of  this  fair. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  the  Sunday-school  of  1890 
was  held  in  the  church  Tuesday  evening,  December  29,  at 
7  o'clock.  The  church  was  well  filled  and  looked  beautiful 
in  its  Christmas  decorations.  Standing  in  front  of  the 
chancel  was  a  stately  tree,  reaching  almost  to  the  very 
top  of  the  building,  and  resplendent  in  glittering  orna- 
ments and  presents. 

The   children    entered  the   church  from  the    Sunday 


ST.    PAULS   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  345 

school  room,  headed  by  the  choir,  largely  composed  of  boys 
belonging  to  the  school,  and  singing  the  processional  carol. 
The  services  consisted  of  the  carols,  a  lesson  from  the  Bible, 
and  prayers.  The  Rev.  Dr.  William  H.  Mills  conducted  the 
services,  and  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Forbes 
and  Alfred  W.  Griffin. 

Dr.  Mills,  the  rector,  and  Charles  Philip  Easton,  the 
Superintendent  of  the  school,  made  appropriate  addresses. 
The  lights  were  then  turned  down,  and  a  calcium  light  was 
thrown  upon  the  tree.  The  colors  of  light  were  frequently 
changed  by  the  operator,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  chil- 
dren. 

Before  distributing  the  gifts  to  the  children,  Mr.  Eas- 
ton, on  behalf  of  the  school,  presented  to  Dr.  Mills  a  hand- 
some set  of  books,  and  to  Miss  Edmonston,  the  organist, 
who  had  kindly  trained  the  children  in  singing  the  carols, 
a  silver  pen. 

The  children  each  received  a  present,  and  beside,  fruit 
and  confectionery.  The  gifts  consisted  of  skates,  games, 
books,  dolls,  plush  boxes,  and  all  kinds  of  toys.  Superin- 
tendent Easton  received  a  handsome  silver  pencil  frorp 
the  school. 

The  children  marched  back  to  their  room  singing 
the  recessional,  "  Oh,  blessed  Lord,"  and  thus  ended  one 
of  the  most  enjoyable  and  profitable  Christmas  festivals 
St.  Paul's  Sunday-school  ever  held. 

St.  Paul's  Sunday-school  represents  for  the  most  part 
those  children  of  the  church  who  were  baptized  in  infancy 
and  who  have  been  instructed  in  the  confirmation  class  by 
the  rector.  Therefore  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  com- 
municants in  the  parish  were  instructed  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  More  than  one  hundred  of  the  communicants  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  during  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mills 
have  come  from  the  Sunday-school. 

Alfred  W.  Grifhn,  a  former  pupil  of  the  Sunday-school, 
entered  the  General  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  New  York,  September,  1889. 

The  number  of  scholars  in  Sunday-school  is  180,  Jan- 
uary, 1890. 

The  superintendents  of  St.   Paul's  Sunday-school  are 


346  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK.     . 

always  appointed  by  the  rector  of  the  parish.  The  names 
of  the  superintendents  of  St.  Paul's  Sunday-school,  in  their 
order  of  service,  are  as  follows  :  Henry  Anstice,  who  was 
the  first  superintendent,  elected  in  1858;  John  N.  Stearns, 
William  Beal,  Charles  W.  Seymour,  who  served  for  eighteen 
years — 1868  to  1886 — W.  G.  Wright,  and  the  present  superin- 
tendent, Charles  Philip  Easton,  who  was  appointed  under 
the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  William  H.  Mills,  D.  D.,  Decem- 
ber, 1887. 

The  officers  of  the  school  are  Charles  Philip  Easton, 
Superintendent;  Wm.  J.  Moore,  Secretary  and  Treasurer; 
Miss  Kittie  Harris,  Organist,  Miss  Mary  Croes,  Librarian, 
Thomas  Hale,  Assistant  Librarian.  The  teachers  are  Mrs. 
William  H.  Mills,  Miss  Mary  A.  Neilson,  Miss  E.  D.  Brere- 
ton,  Miss  Emily  C.  Brereton,  Miss  H.  S.  Warren,  Miss 
Helen  Hollister,  Miss  C.  Whitney,  Miss  Hattie  McDonald, 
Miss  Annie  J.  Watson,  Miss  Marion  Scribner,  Miss  S.  C. 
Mills,  Miss  Mary  S.  Jenkins,  Miss  Knapp,  Miss  M.  Clark, 
Miss  Sophia  Shonnard,  and  Messrs.  William  J.  Moore  and 
William  J.  Wright. 

The  young  men's  Bible-class  is  taught  by  William  J. 
Wright. 

The  Sunday-school  helps  used  by  the  school  are  "  Sun- 
day-school vService  Book,"  the  ''  Complete  Manual  of  Sun- 
day-school Instruction,"  by  Rev.  E.  L.  Stoddard,  Ph.  D., 
the  "Church  Catechism,"  and  the  "Christian  Primer  for 
the  Little  Ones,"  approved  by  Right  Rev.  Henry  A.  Neely, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Maine.  The  Sunday-school  hymn  book 
is  "The  Children's  Hymn  Book,"  arranged  in  the  order  of 
the  church  year  and  published  under  the  revision  of  the 
Right  Revs.  Drs.  Howe,  Oxender,  and  EUerton.  The  Sun- 
day-school paper  is  "  The  Young  Christian  Soldier." 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         347 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE  NEPPERHAN  AVENUE  BAPTIST  MISSION  SUNDAY-SCHOOL.* 

This  Sunday-school,  formerly  known  as  the  Spring 
Street  Mission  Sunday-school,  was  founded  in  November, 
1863,  under  the  following  interesting  circumstances.  Rev. 
Edward  Bright,  D.  D.,  Editor  of  the  "  New  York  Examiner," 
who  had  a  few  months  previously  become  a  resident  of  Yon- 
kers,  being  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  Christian  effort 
in  the  behalf  of  the  residents  in  the  eastern  part  of  what 
was  then  the  village  of  Yonkers,  proposed  the  starting  of  a 
mission  Sunday-school  in  that  locality.  This  proposition 
was  warmly  seconded  by  his  three  daughters. 

Preparatory  to  the  organization  of  the  school,  Rev. 
Dr.  Bright,  in  company  with  Isaiah  Anderson,  spent  the 
evenings  of  several  weeks  in  ascertaining  the  number  of 
children  occupying  the  houses  in  that  district  and  in  con- 
sidering plans  how  to  reach  them.  At  the  suggestion  of 
Dr.  Bright  practical  measures  were  taken  to  ascertain  the 
number  of  children  without  Sunday-school  instruction  liv- 
ing in  the  district,  and  Rev.  Henry  Bromley,  now  the  mis- 
sionary pastor  of  the  Greenwood  Baptist  Church  at  Brook- 

*  The  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Church  was  organized  June  22, 1891, 
with  forty -one  members,  all  of  whom  came  from  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church. 

On  August  26  of  the  same  year  twenty-five  took  letters  of  dismission 
from  the  mother  church.  On  June  25,  iSgi.the  first  church  prayer-meeting 
was  held  ;  Deacon  Dinsmore,  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  led 
it.  Forty  were  in  attendance.  On  July  7,  1891,  trustees  were  elected  un- 
der the  law  of  1813. 

On  Sunday  evening,  July  26,  1891,  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist 
Church  closed  its  evening  service,  and  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Alvah  S.  Hobart, 
D.  D.,  preached  the  opening  sermon  at  the  new  church  to  the  united  con- 
gregations. The  organization  of  the  new  church  met  the  hearty  approval 
of  the  pastor  and  deacons  and  trustees  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist 
Church.  The  free  use  of  the  building  has  been  granted  to  the  new  church, 
and  services  are  now  regularly  held.  A  call  has  been  extended  by  the 
church  to  the  Rev.  H.  M.  Warren,  ot  New  York,  to  become  its  pastor, 
which  has  been  accepted.  The  present — September,  1891 — membership  of 
this  church  is  seventy-five.    The  Rev.  Mr.  Warren  was  ordained  Nov.  5,  '91. 


348  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

lyn,  N.  Y.,  was  invited  to  make  a  personal  visitation  at  the 
homes  and  to  present  the  subject  of  the  formation  of  a 
Sunday-school. 

The  proposal  met  with  a  cordial  response  among-  the 
families  in  that  vicinity.  At  the  same  time,  in  accordance 
with  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Bright  and  others,  Mr.  Bromley 
invited  the  children  to  a  picnic  which  was  held  in  a  large 
grove  of  oak-trees  on  the  south  side  of  Nodine  Hill,  on 
Saturday  afternoon  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  school 
on  the  following  Sunday.  Every  one  enjoyed  the  picnic 
and  it  inspired  much  interest  and  enthusiasm  among  the 
children  and  youth,  who  came  together  one  hundred  strong. 
The  first  place  of  meeting  of  the  Sunday-school  was  in  a 
small  room  in  a  brick  building  which  was  known  as  the 
skin  factory,  located  near  the  corner  of  Nepperhan  Avenue 
and  Mechanic  Street  (now  New  Main  Street).  This  room 
was  called  Grant's  Hall,  and  became  memorable  in  connec- 
tion with  the  history  of  the  organization  of  the  Westminster 
Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city. 

The  first  day  of  the  gathering  of  the  children  was  spent 
in  considering  plans  for  organization  and  brief  addresses  to 
the  children,  and  was  known  as  a  children's  meeting.  The 
Sunday-school  was  opened  for  active  work  on  the  second 
Sunday  of  November,  1863,  with  one  hundred  pupils,  and 
the  following  persons  who  can  be  recalled,  were  present  on 
that  occasion  :  Rev.  Dr.  Bright,  Misses  Mary,  Matilda,  and 
Amelia  Bright,  Miss  Caroline  H.  Tripler,  Mrs.  Emeline 
Manny,  Deacon  Peter  F.  Peek,  Elias  Whipple,  Isaiah  An- 
derson, John  B.  Trevor,  and  Mrs.  Louisa  S.  S.  Trevor,  all  of 
whom  offered  their  services  as  teachers  with  the  exception 
of  the  last  three  mentioned  persons.  Mrs.  S.  S.  Trevor  took 
a  warm  interest  in  this  new  enterprise  and  aided  the  work- 
ers with  words  of  cheer  and  encouragement  and  financial 
support,  and  continued  go  to  do  until  her  decease.  John 
B.  Trevor  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Colgate  also  pledged 
an  annual  sum  for  the  support  of  the  school,  which  they 
continue  to  this  time. 

Rev.  Dr.  Bright  was  chosen  superintendent  and  served 
nine  years.  Isaiah  Anderson  was  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer,  which  offices  he  filled  for  eight  years. 


NEPPERHAN    AVENUE    MISSION    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         349 

The  Sunday-school  occupied  Grant's  Hall  for  a  few 
Sundays  only,  and  then  was  removed  to  a  small  building 
located  on  the  corner  of  Brook  and  Spring  Streets,  which 
was  enlarged  twice  during  the  occupancy  of  the  school  to 
accommodate  the  increasing  number  of  scholars.  The  build- 
ing is  at  present  known  as  Teutonia  Hall.  The  school 
remained  in  that  building  until  its  removal  to  the  Mission 
Chapel  it  now  occupies  on  Nepperhan  Avenue,  near  Elm 
Street,  and  which  was  constructed  of  the  materials  of  the 
Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  which  w^as  left  by  its  people 
for  their  new  church  edifice  on  Warburton  Avenue. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  the  Spring 
Street  Mission  Sunday-school  for  the  year  ending  April, 
1871 :  "Number  of  pupils,  518;  in  Bible-class,  122;  infant 
class,  132;  the  largest  attendance  at  any  one  session,  343. 
School  was  addressed  by  Deacon  Wm.  Holme,  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Sunday-school, 
Mr.  Eddy,  and  Mr.  Wescott.  The  officers  are :  Rev.  Dr. 
E.  Bright,  Superintendent;  A.  F.  Holmes,  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent ;  A.  F.  Wescott,  Treasurer ;  George  Umphray, 
Sr.,  Secretary ;  Cornelius  N.  Peek,  Librarian  ;  J.  E.  H.  Fer- 
riss,  Assistant  Librarian.  The  teachers  are :  Mrs.  S.  T.  White, 
Misses  Matilda  Bright,  Caroline  H.  Tripler,  A.  B.  Cook,  A. 
Terpening,  Agnes  Holme,  Lucy  Peek,  Ella  Cady,  Mary 
Carey,  Sarah  Clark,  Almira  Austin,  Hattie  R.  Umphray, 
Ida  Hazen,  Messrs.  F.  Wescott,  William  N.  Bailey,  M.  Hull, 
James  Holme,  John  Whitney,  William  Halsey,  J.  P.  Taylor, 
and  A.  B.  See.  Miss  Mary  Bright  and  Miss  Florilla  N.  John, 
ston  (now  Mrs.  F.  W.  Thomas)  teachers  of  the  primary 
department.  Rev.  Dr.  Bright  teacher  of  adult  Bible-class. 
A.  F.  Decker  teacher  of  the  young  ladies'  class.  Mr.  Eddy 
leader  of  the  singing.  This  school  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition and  is  doing  a  most  excellent  work  on  the  eastern 
border  of  our  town." 

The  Sunday-school  was  removed  to  the  Mission  Chapel 
erected  on  Nepperhan  Avenue  and  which  was  opened  early 
in  the  summer  of  1872. 

A  printed  report  of  the  school,  December,  1874,  shows: 
"  Scholars  on  roll,  327  ;  average  attendance  during  the  past 
year,  263,  an  increase  of  49  over  preceding  year;  teachers, 


350  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

27  ;  volumes  in  library,  453  :  contributed  to  the  poor  fund, 
$212  62;  shoes  for  the  poor,  $99  20;  dry  goods,  $85  50; 
garments  distributed,  no  Officers,  John  A.  Amelung, 
Superintendent ;  Thomas  H.  Messer,  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent ;  Joseph  C.  Holme,  Secretary  ;  C.  W.  Peek,  Treasurer ; 
Wm.  N.  Anderson,  Librarian  ;  Miss  C.  H.  Tripler,  Treas- 
urer of  the  Poor  Fund." 

The  annual  Christmas  festival  was  held  on  Tuesday  even- 
ing, December  29,  1 874.  The  walls  of  the  chapel  were  hand- 
somely festooned  with  evergreens  and  frames  of  the  same 
material  bearing  the  inscriptions  respectively,  "  Bethle- 
hem," "Nazareth,"  "Messiah,"  "Emmanuel,"  with  the 
figures  1863  in  evergreen,  being  the  year  in  which  the 
school  was  started,  and  1874,  the  present  year.  The  frames 
were  each  suspended  by  cords  of  evergreen.  Over  the 
platform  near  the  ceiling,  "  Glory  be  to  God  in  the  highest," 
were  the  words  in  evergreen,  and  under  this  inscription 
was  the  star  of  the  east  and  the  words  "  Merry  Christ- 
mas." 

The  large  tree  loaded  with  presents  stood  upon  the 
platform  from  which  Santa  Claus  supplied  the  children. 
Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Burns,  pastor  of 
the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Ed- 
ward Bright.  Singing  by  the  school  and  recitations  by  a 
number  of  the  pupils  completed  the  programme  of  exer- 
cises on  that  pleasant  occasion.  The  whole  f^te  reflected 
most  creditably  upon  John  A.  Amelung,  the  superintend- 
ent, and  his  coadjutors. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  this  school 
during  the  centennial  year,  February,  1876:  "We  visited 
the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  Sunday-school  last 
Sunday  afternoon  and  found  the  room  crowded  with  one 
of  the  best  and  most  orderly  assemblies  of  scholars  we 
have  ever  looked  upon.  Every  teacher  was  at  his  or  her 
post,  and  every  scholar  in  his  or  her  seat.  The  opening  of 
the  school  was  a  most  pleasing  feature,  and  the  children 
sang  their  hymns  very  sweetly. 

"  From  John  A.  Amelung,  the  superintendent,  we  obtain 
the  following  exhibit  of  the  school  for  the  present  year: 
Officers,  7;  teachers,  28;  scholars  on  register,  416;  average 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        35 1 

attendance,  286;  largest  attendance,  416;  in  infant  class, 
180;  conversions,  35  ;  deaths  (one  teacher  and  three  pupils), 
4;  volumes  in  library,  458  ;  receipts,  $338  71  ;  expenditures, 
$322  70 ;  receipts  for  benevolence,  $277  39  ;  expenditures 
for  benevolence,  $235    19;  cast-off  garments  distributed,  50. 

"  The  officers  of  the  school  are :  John  A.  Amelung, 
Superintendent ;  Thomas  H.  Messer,  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent ;  Cornelius  W.  Peek,  Secretary ;  William  Anderson, 
Librarian  ;  Miss  C.  H.  Tripler,  Treasurer  of  the  Poor  Fund. 
The  teachers  are  Mrs.  John  A.  Amelung,  Miss  C.  H.  Trip- 
ler, Mrs.  John  S.  White,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Baldwin,  Miss  Lillian 
Earl,  Miss  H.  E.  Earl,  Miss  Amy  Halsted,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Feak- 
ins.  Miss  Ella  See,  Miss  Lena  Leeds,  Miss  Marilla  Star,  Miss 
Fannie  Austin,  Miss  Carey,  Miss  Estella  Depew,  Miss  Flor- 
ence Parsons,  Miss  Belle  Van  Wagner,  Miss  Eva  Munson, 
Messrs.  A.  F.  Decker,  Thomas  H.  Messer,  W.  H.  Baldwin, 
Ezra  L.  Manning,  Harold  Harris,  Wm.  Papps,  Wm.  Hal- 
sey,  A.  J.  Feakins,  C.  H.  Callahan,  and  Wm.  Van  Kirk." 

In  November,  1879,  ^iiss  Eva  J.  Munson,  a  teacher  in 
this  school,  left  Yonkers  for  San  Francisco,  from  which 
place  she  sailed  for  Tokio,  her  mission  field  in  Japan.  On 
October  25  of  the  same  year  a  farewell  reception  was  given 
to  her  by  the  Women's  Mission  Circle  of  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church.  After  an  hour  of  social  inter- 
course in  the  church  parlor  the  company  repaired  to  the 
chapel,  where  the  farewell  exercises  took  place.  They  were 
informal,  impressive,  and  appropriate. 

After  singing  a  hymn.  Rev.  H.  M.  Sanders,  the  pastor, 
stated  the  object  of  the  gathering,  saying  that  in  his  esti- 
mation the  departure  of  one  of  their  number  to  a  foreign 
field  of  labor  called  for  some  such  an  expression  of  sympa- 
thy and  regard.  He  then  introduced  Rev.  Dr.  Burlingham, 
of  Brooklyn,  District  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Board,  who 
congratulated  the  church  on  having  one  who  was  thought 
worthy  by  the  Master  to  engage  in  this  labor.  Brief  ad- 
dresses followed  by  Mrs.  Robert  Harris,  of  New  York,  Mrs. 
James  B.  Colgate,  President  of  the  Women's  P'oreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Southern  New  York  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, Mr.  M.  F.  Decker,  Miss  Munson,  and  the  benediction 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Sanders. 


352  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Miss  Munson  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  mission 
band  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  and  the 
contributions  of  the  band  made  four  of  its  members  life- 
members  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  Miss  Munson  being  one  of  those  so  honored.  She 
subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  W.  T.  White,  an 
English  missionary  laboring  in  Japan. 

In  a  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Women's  Baptist  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  of  the  Southern  New  York  Associa- 
tion, held  in  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  June 
14,  1889,  Miss  Anna  H.  Kidder,  of  Tokio,  Japan,  who  ad- 
dressed the  society,  gave  the  following  pleasing  and  grateful 
tribute  to  the  worth  of  Miss  Munson 's  character  and  work 
in  her  missionary  home  :  "  At  her  marriage  with  Rev.  W.  J. 
White  she  was  obliged  to  relinquish  some  of  her  work, 
and  we  regretted  parting  with  her,  for  she  was  a  delightful 
church  worker,  a  faithful  and  hearty  worker  in  everything 
so  far  as  the  cares  of  her  large  family  would  permit.  She 
has  proven  a  loving  and  faithful  mother  to  the  five  mother- 
less children  of  her  husband,  besides  one  of  her  own.  She 
still  continues  to  assist  her  husband  in  his  work,  taking 
charge  of  the  day-school  and  the  Sunday-school  in  his  ab- 
sence. We  are  proud  of  her  as  a  mother  and  as  an  earnest 
Christian  worker." 

Miss  Munson  was  formerly  a  pupil  in  Miss  Caroline  H. 
Tripler's  class,  as  was  also  Miss  Kitty  Van  Kirk,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gillette.  The  members  of  her 
class  are  now  bright  and  active  boys,  who  are  making  their 
lives  tell  in  works  of  usefulness.  One  of  them,  Elmer  J. 
Craft,  was  formerly  the  president  of  the  Boys'  Branch  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Yonkers. 

Miss  Tripler  has  been  connected  with  the  school  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  as  teacher  and  treasurer  of  the 
Poor  Fund  of  the  school.  Her  labors  in  connection  with 
the  latter  department  have  been  most  arduous,  for  all  those 
years  the  care  and  disposal  of  the  benevolent  funds  of  the 
school  have  been  under  her  supervision  and  direction.  Dr. 
Phillips,  a  recent  superintendent,  speaking  of  her  work, 
observed  that  "  the  shoes  and  dry-goods  which  had  been 
given  under  her  direction  for  supplying  the  needs  of  the 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        353 

destitute  scholars  of  the  school  here  were  sufficient  to  stock 
a  large  store  with  either  of  these  commodities."  Rev.  Dr. 
Bright,  in  his  address  at  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the 
school,  remarked  that  "  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist 
Mission  School  would  never  know  the  obligations  they  were 
under  to  Miss  Tripler,  who  had  been  a  tower  of  strength 
to  it  through  all  the  past  twenty-five  years."  A  most  be- 
fitting recognition  of  her  worth  and  work  was  the  placing, 
by  her  associate  teachers  and  the  scholars  of  the  school,  of 
her  picture  beside  that  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bright's,  the  honored 
founder  of  the  school.  The  likeness  of  this  revered  teacher, 
and  that  of  her  missionary  pupil.  Miss  Eva  J.  Munson, 
which  likewise  adorns  the  walls  of  the  chapel,  will  in  the 
coming  years  be  memorials  of  the  work  and  alms-deeds 
which  they  have  done. 

Miss  Caroline  H.  Tripler's  name  stands  second  on  the 
honor  roll  of  Yonkers  Sunday-school  teachers,  the  late  Miss 
Emeline  Hoyt,  of  the  Reformed  Sunday-school,  being  the 
first,  for  her  long  and  faithful  service  of  forty-three  years 
in  connection  with  that  school. 

The  Mission  Chapel  was  enlarged  twice  to  meet  the 
growing  demands  of  the  school.  The  first  time  of  its  en- 
largement— which  was  by  an  addition  to  the  rear  of  the 
building — the  school,  through  an  arrangement  of  the  build- 
ers, still  continued  to  meet  in  the  chapel.  The  second  time 
it  was  enlarged  the  school  was  held  in  an  unoccupied  por- 
tion of  the  building  then  known  as  the  "  Waring  Hat  Man- 
ufactory," on  Elm  Street,  which  it  occupied  for  three 
months.  The  committee  appointed  for  the  extension  of  the 
building  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Decker,  Amelung,  Feakins, 
Manning,  Baldwin,  Mrs.  John  A.  East,  and  Mrs.  John  White. 

The  chapel  was  reopened,  after  extensive  repairs  and 
improvements,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  October  18,  1884, 
when  a  large  congregation  assembled.  Dr.  R.  Oliver  Phil< 
lips,  superintendent,  presided,  Edwin  Moore  conducted  the 
singing,  accompanied  by  John  Bright  on  the  cornet.  Ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Superintendent  Phillips,  E.  L.  Man- 
ning, T.  R.  Pettingill,  Colgate  Hoyt,  James  B.  Colgate, 
John  B.  Trevor,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Weston. 

The  recent  improvements  to  the  chapel,  planned  by  John 

Church  and  Sunday-Bchool  Work.  2 "? 


354  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Jardine,  architect,  consist  of  a  new  gallery,  an  enlargement 
of  the  main  gallery,  etc.,  by  which  nearly  three  hundred 
more  pupils  can  be  accommodated.  The  cost  of  these  im- 
provements was  $3,500,  of  which  the  Sunday-school  con- 
tributed $315.  D.  and  J.  Jardine,  of  New  York,  were  the 
contractors,  the  mason  work  was  done  by  J.  and  G.  Stewart, 
and  the  carpenter  work  by  S.  F.  Quick. 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  R.  Oliver  Phillips,  M.  D., 
superintendent,  a  visiting  committee  was  appointed  January, 
1884,  the  chairman  of  which  was  Mrs.  A.  J.  Feakins,  who 
was  assisted  by  Misses  Lena  Leeds,  Lizzie  East,  and  Florence 
J.  Parsons,  who  comprised  the  standing  advisory  visiting 
committee.  Miss  Anna  Hathaway  subsequently  was  made 
a  member.  The  committee  were  authorized  to  appoint  a 
sub-committee,  the  members  of  which  held  office  for  one 
month.  The  members  of  the  sub-committee  collected  the 
class  cards  every  Sunday.  Upon  these  cards  were  written 
the  teachers'  names  and  the  names  and  addresses  of  the  ab- 
sent scholars,  and  the  cause  of  absence,  and  reported  the 
following  Sunday  to  the  advisory  committee. 

These  committees  did  laborious  and  excellent  work 
which  produced  a  marked  effect  in  retaining  and  maintain- 
ing the  regular  and  punctual  attendance  of  the  scholars. 
Clothing,  fuel,  and  employment  were  in  some  cases  provi- 
ded for  those  unable  to  obtain  them.  These  committees 
continued  in  the  service  of  the  school  until  the  appoint- 
ment, October,  1887,  of  Miss  E.  Holmes  as  the  missionary 
visitor  of  the  school. 

The  Christmas  festival  held  December  25,  1885,  was 
reported  as  follows :  On  Tuesday  evening  the  exercises  of 
the  main  school  were  held.  Dr.  R.  O.  Phillips  presided  in 
his  usual  cheery  manner.  Rev.  E.  P.  Farnham,  pastor  of 
the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  made  some  very 
happy  remarks.  After  recitations  by  the  children  and  music 
by  John  Bright,  Santa  Claus  appeared  from  a  little  house 
on  the  back  of  the  stage.  Many  presents  were  given  to 
different  teachers  in  the  school,  and  a  huge  stocking  for 
the  pastor  created  a  great  deal  of  amusement.  After  pull- 
ing out  any  quantity  of  paper,  a  box  was  found  containing 
a  handsome  Waltham  eold  watch. 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         355 

On  Wednesday  evening  the  primary  department  had 
their  festival.  About  240  little  children  filed  into  the  room, 
and  the  friends  of  the  little  ones  crowded  the  house.  The 
exercises  were  opened  by  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  by 
one  of  the  children,  and  prayer  by  the  pastor,  after  which 
singing  and  speeches  by  the  little  children  filled  up  a  happy 
hour.  Then  Santa  Claus  appeared  from  a  house  that  had 
been  built  upon  the  platform  and  made  some  presents. 
The  last  one  was  a  large,  handsome  picture  of  a  little  child 
listening  to  the  ticking  of  a  watch.  This  was  given  to 
Thomas  H.  Messer,  the  superintendent  of  this  department. 
One  of  the  pupils,  Ella  Manning,  made  the  presentation. 
It  was  a  gift  from  the  children. 

In  1886  an  entertainment  for  the  benefit  of  the  Baptist 
churches  of  Charleston,  injured  by  the  earthquake,  was  given 
under  the  auspices  of  the  members  of  the  mission  and  home 
schools  in  the  Mission  Chapel.  As  the  result  of  their  efforts 
the  young  people  realized  about  $60  above  expenses. 

In  January,  1886,  R.  Oliver  Phillips,  M.  D.,  found  it 
imperative  to  resign  the  superintendency  of  the  school,  as 
he  was  unable  to  give  the  time  which  was  necessary  to  it 
on  account  of  his  increasing  professional  duties.  His  res- 
ignation was  exceedingly  regretted  and  very  reluctantly 
accepted  by  both  the  teachers  and  scholars,  to  whom  he 
had  endeared  himself  by  his  faithful  services  in  their  be- 
half.    He  was  succeeded  by  William  H.  Belknap. 

The  enrolment  of  pupils  in  the  Sunday-school  for  1888 
showed  700  scholars,  and  the  average  attendance  for  each 
Sunday  for  the  first  six  months  of  the  year  was  500  pupils 
and  6"]  teachers,  besides  officers. 

A  young  ladies'  prayer-meeting  was  started  by  Miss 
S.  Jennie  Holme  (now  Mrs.  D.  Stanton  Cady),  one  of  the 
teachers  of  the  school,  in  December,  1887,  which  was  held 
at  4:  10  P.  M.,  immediately  after  the  close  of  school,  lasting 
not  quite  an  hour.  On  one  Sunday  there  were  more  than 
forty  present  of  the  teachers  and  young  ladies  from  the 
Bible-classes  of  the  school.  The  meeting  was  led  by  Miss 
C.  L.  Manning,  the  subject  being  "  Trust."  Verses  from 
the  Bible  bearing  on  the  subject  were  given,  and  the  ex- 
ercises were  of  a  deeply  interesting  character. 


356  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  twenty-fourth  anniversary  of  this  school  was  held 
at  the  Mission  Chapel  on  Nepperhan  Avenue  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  November  13,  1887. 

The  programme  of  exercises  was  unique  and  original, 
quite  unlike  that  which  it  usually  presented  on  such  occa- 
sions. There  were  no  addresses  by  either  clergymen  or 
laymen.  Brief  reports  of  the  work  accomplished  during 
the  past  year  were  presented  by  the  officers,  which  were 
full  of  facts  interestingly  and  graphically  stated,  and  were 
listened  to  with  pleasure  and  profit  by  all  who  heard  them. 

On  the  wall,  behind  the  superintendent's  desk,  inscribed 
in  old  English,  were  the  words,  "  Twenty-fourth  Anniver- 
sary." Underneath  this  inscription  hung  the  portrait  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Bright,  one  of  the  founders  and  the 
first  superintendent  of  this  school,  who  will  ever  be  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  for  his  labor  of  love  in  this  field ; 
also  the  portrait  of  John  A.  Amelung,  the  superintendent 
greatly  beloved,  who  has  "  entered  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord  " 
and  is  now  before  the  throne  of  God  among  those  who 
have  been  redeemed  from  the  earth  and  who  sing  the  "  new 
song"  "  unto  God  and  unto  the  Lamb." 

On  the  platform  were  Rev.  H.  B.  Grose,  acting  pastor 
of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  Dr.  R.  Oliver 
Phillips,  a  former  superintendent,  Edwin  Moore,  leader  of 
the  singing,  John  Bright  and  his  son,  William  Bright,  cor- 
netist.  Miss  Hattie  Middlebrook,  who  presided  at  the  piano, 
and  the  superintendent,  William  H.  Belknap. 

The  primary  department,  with  its  superintendent, 
Franklin  Airey,  and  teachers,  occupied  the  front  seats  of 
the  audience-room  and  the  seats  under  the  north  and  south 
galleries,  while  the  remaining  space  of  the  audience-room 
and  the  east  gallery  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  by  the 
adult  members  of  the  school  and  their  friends  and  visitors 
from  other  Sunday-schools. 

The  number  of  teachers  and  scholars  of  the  school  who 
were  present  was  702. 

The  exercises  began  promptly  at  2  :  30  o'clock,  and 
were  opened  by  singing  the  first  hymn  on  the  programme, 
beginning : 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  357 

We  gather  rejoicing,  we  gather  once  more, 
Where  Jesus  so  kindly  has  met  us  before. 

This  was  followed  by  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures 
from  the  second  chapter  of  Second  Timothy,  1-15,  by  Dr. 
Phillips,  after  which  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  H.  B. 
Grose,  acting-  pastor  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist 
Church. 

Hymn  No.  2,  "  Praise  ye  the  Lord,"  was  then  sung, 
followed  by  questions  "  On  Our  School,"  which  were  asked 
by  the  superintendent  and  which  were  answered  by  W. 
W.  Middlebrook,  A.  J.  Feakins,  Augustus  Desgrey,  Elmer 
Manning,  Roland  Belknap,  Charles  Ackerman,  E.  L.  Man- 
ning, Wm.  Papps,  Miss  Bertha  Odell,  Miss  Annie  Kipp,  Miss 
Beulah  Messer,  and  Miss  Newman. 

The  primary  department  then  sang  "  Our  Work  for 
Jesus."  Miss  Mattie  Warren  presided  at  the  piano,  and 
W.  W.  Middlebrook  led  them  in  singing. 

Then  followed  the  report  of  the  primary  department 
by  its  superintendent,  Franklin  Airey,  who  stated  the  full 
attendance  of  that  department  for  1887  to  be  11,701  ;  aver- 
age, 188;  highest,  281.  The  collections  during  the  year 
were  $185  13,  divided  as  follows:  Christmas  offering  for 
Home  for  Aged  Ministers,  $23  ;  piano  fund,  $17  55  ;  Sunday 
collections,  $144  58. 

The  report  of  the  secretary,  George  T.  Leeds,  stated 
that  the  school  had  so  increased  that  it  became  necessary 
to  create  a  new  office,  that  of  assistant  superintendent,  to 
which  Albert  J.  Feakins  was  duly  elected.  The  total  num- 
ber attending  for  the  past  year  was  28,455  5  largest  attend- 
ance, 670:  smallest,  228;  average,  545.  Four  scholars 
had  removed  from  the  city,  three  died  during  the  year,  and 
sixy-one  had  left  the  school.  There  were  forty-four  classes 
on  the  main  floor,  seven  in  the  galleries,  and  twenty-three 
in  the  primary  department.  Among  the  interesting  items 
of  this  report  was  the  following :  "  And  as  evidence  that  God 
is  ever  guiding  and  prospering  us  as  a  school,  thirty  mem- 
bers thereof  have  joined  the  church  by  baptism,  and  others 
to  our  knowledge  are  ready  to  follow  those  who  have  led 
the  way." 

The  hymn  "  Oh  sing  the  passing  years"  followed,  after 


358  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

which  the  report  of  E.  L.  Manning,  Treasurer  of  the  school, 
for  the  year  ending  November  13,  1887,  was  read,  giving 
these  figures:  Total  expenses,  $634  10,  of  which  $217  78 
went  to  the  Baptist  Publication  Society  for  books,  papers, 
etc.,  other  items  being  for  music,  missionary  work,  and 
$101  57  for  minor  sundries.  Income,  $662  02,  being  balance 
last  report,  $1  32  ;  church  collections,  $282  31 ;  school  collec- 
tions, $232  19;  and  through  the  superintendent,  $150.  Bal- 
ance on  hand,  $31  92. 

The  report  of  Miss  C.  H.  Tripler,  who  ever  since  the 
organization  of  this  mission  has  been  treasurer  of  its  Poor 
Fund,  was  read  by  Superintendent  Belknap.  Receipts, 
$676  75  ;  expended  for  the  poor  of  the  school,  $628  53. 
Ninety-four  children  have  received  assistance.  The  la- 
dies' sewing  society  of  the  school  has  made  ninety-one 
garments  for  these  children. 

Superintendent  Belknap  read  his  report.  He  said  :  "  It 
has  been  the  policy  of  this  school  to  reach  out  when  money 
is  required  to  make  the  work  a  success,  believing  that,  so 
long  as  it  is  the  Master's  work  and  we  give  ourselves  to  the 
cause.  He  will  make  the  way  clear  for  us.  We  have  suffer- 
ed in  a  marked  degree  as  a  school  for  years  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  absolutely  impossible  for  the  great  ma- 
jority of  our  teachers  to  visit  the  scholars.  Various  plans 
as  regards  visiting  committees  have  been  tried,  with  good 
results  therefrom ;  but  still  we  could  see  that  a  great  many 
wandered  away  from  the  school  who  we  thought  should 
be  present.  And  this  was  the  source  of  uneasiness  to  the 
teachers  and  officers  of  the  school  as  the  situation  was  re- 
viewed from  time  to  time.  A  plan  was  suggested  long  ago 
that  if  a  lady  could  be  engaged  to  visit  the  absentees,  it 
would  prevent,  in  a  great  measure,  this  continual  leak 
from  our  school.  But  while  the  plan  was  approved,  we 
could  not  see  our  way  clear  towards  its  accomplishment 
until  quite  recently,  when  your  superintendent,  with  the 
consent  of  the  executive  committee  and  advice  of  the  ad- 
visory board,  engaged  Miss  Lizzie  Holmes,  who  gives  her 
whole  time  and  attention  to  visiting  the  absentees  of  the 
school,  and  the  result  of  this  work  is,  so  far,  quite  beyond 
our  expectations,  and  we  feel  assured  that   the   spiritual 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         359 

welfare  of  the  school  will,  through  this  work,  advance 
steadily  and  earnestly.  The  reports  you  have  listened  to 
have  shown  you  that  prosperity  has  attended  every  depart- 
ment of  this  school.  We  as  a  school  have  been  most 
wonderfully  blessed." 

The  semi-chorus  entitled  "What  reward  shall  I  give 
■unto  the  Lord  ?"  was  sung  by  Misses  Annie  Kipp,  Gussie 
King,  May  Stimpson,  Priscilla  Van  Tassel,  Lillian  Halsey, 
and  Bertha  Odell. 

The  superintendent  then  said,  "  We  have  had  a  few 
facts  given  to  us  about  '  Our  School '  past  and  present,  and 
as  we  are  but  a  part  of  a  vast  system  of  Sunday-schools 
throughout  the  world,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  us  to  hear 
something  of  Sunday-schools  in  general  and  of  the  work. 
Miss  Gault,  by  whom,  when,  and  where  was  the  first  Sun- 
day-school organized  under  our  present  system  ?" 

Answer — By  Robert  Raikes,  Gloucester,  England,  1781. 
Question  No.  2 — How  many  were  present  when  organ- 
ized? 

Answer — Number  unknown ;  but  we  do  know  that 
there  were  four  small  classes.     By  Miss  Carrie  Manning. 

Question  No.  3 — What  is  the  present  number  in  the 
Sunday-schools  of  our  land  ? 

Answer — Census  of  1880  gave  7,509,452,  of  which  886,- 
328  were  teachers.     By  Miss  Lizzie  East. 

Question  No.  4 — How  many  in  the  world  ? 
Answer — 14,184,880.     By  Miss  Etta  Burns. 
The  superintendent  added:    This  includes    1,504,613 
teachers. 

Question  5 — What  is  the  object  of  Sunday-school 
work? 

Mr.  Callahan   answered :    To   give  instruction   in  the 
Word  of  God,  and  to  prepare  the  scholars  for  the  reception 
of  Jesus  Christ  as  their  Saviour. 
Is  that  all,  Brother  Holden  ? 

Answer — No  ;  also  that  we  be  rooted  and  built  up  in 
Him  and  established  in  the  faith  as  we  have  been  taught, 
abounding  therein  with  thanksgiving. 
The  school  then  united  in  singing : 


360  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

"  In  a  little  while  more  these  rolling  years 
No  more  will  come  and  go  ; 
In  a  little  while  more  our  busy  hands 
No  more  the  seed  will  sow." 

Seven  little  girls  from  the  primary  department,  each 
representing  a  day  of  the  week,  told  how  they  were  to 
spend  each  day.  The  seventh  little  girl  told  why  Sunday 
was  the  brightest  and  best  day  of  all  the  week. 

The  school  then  united  in  responsive  reading  of  a 
selection  of  verses  from  the  Bible,  subject.  Love,  beginning 
"  For  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only-begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  belie veth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life,"  John  3  :  16,  and  ending  with  the 
verse  from  Rev.  1:5,6,  in  which  all  the  school  united, 
"  Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and  has  washed  us  from  our  sins 
in  his  own  blood,  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever." 

Then  followed  a  most  excellent  recitation  on  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible,  viz. :  What  is  sin  ?  What  is  salvation  ? 
What  is  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus?  What  is  repentance? 
What  is  God  ?  What  ase  the  promises  to  those  who  trust 
in  the  Lord  ?  Why  is  our  Lord  called  Jesus  Christ  ?  What 
is  prayer  ?     What  authority  have  we  for  our  work  ? 

These  questions  were'answered  by  the  members  of  the 
different  classes,  the  answers  to  them  being  given  in  a  verse 
of  Scripture.  It  was  a  deeply  instructive  exercise,  showing 
that  the  children  of  this  school  are  being  carefully  in- 
structed in  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Word  of  God. 

The  closing  hymn  was  then  sung : 

"  Praise  ye  the  Lord  !  joyfully  shout  Hosanna! 

Praise  the  Lord  with  glad  acclaim ; 
Lift  up  your  hearts  unto  his  throne  with  gladness, 

Magnify  his  holy  name. 
Marching  along  under  his  banner  bright, 
Trusting  in  his  mercy  as  we  go, 
His  light  divine  tenderly  o'er  us  will  shine  ; 
We  shall  be  guided  by  his  hand  now  and  for  ever. 

CHORUS. 

"Steadily  marching  on  with  our  banner  waving  o'er  us, 
Steadily  marching  on,  while  we  sing  the  joyful  chorus. 
Steadily  marching  on,  pillar  and  cloud  going  before  us, 
To  the  realms  of  glory,  to  our  home  on  high." 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         361 

The  school  was  dismissed  by  classes. 

The  primary  department  of  the  school  is  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  chapel.  Its  first  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  Bright, 
who  was  its  efficient  leader  for  a  number  of  years.  ]\Iiss 
Bright  introduced  object  lessons  with  the  use  of  the  black- 
board. She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Post.  Capt. 
Holmes  was  also  a  faithful  teacher  and  was  assisted  by  Miss 
F.  N.  Johnston  (now  Mrs.  F.  W._  Thomas).  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  A.  Amelung  were  also  associated  in  the  work  of  this 
department.     Miss  Bogart  also  taught  for  a  brief  period. 

For  upwards  of  fifteen  years  Thomas  H.  Messer  had 
charge  of  this  department.  A  former  teacher  of  the  school 
writes  as  follows  in  regard  to  Mr.  Messer's  labors  in  con- 
nection with  the  department :  "  Never  was  one  so  loved  as 
he  by  the  children.  There  seemed  a  magnetism  about  him 
that  the  children  could  not  resist.  Every  Sunday  found 
him  in  his  place.  A  more  faithful  teacher  I  never  knew. 
He  knew  each  scholar  by  name.  He  often  meets  his  former 
pupils,  now  grown,  keeps  track  of  them,  and  keeps  up  his 
interest  in  them.  He  loved  that  class  and  his  affection  was 
warmly  reciprocated  by  his  pupils.  Several  years  ago  the 
children  purchased  a  picture  called  'Tick  Tack,'  hand- 
somely framed,  and  presented  it  to  him.  That  child's  face 
attentively  listening  will  always  silently  remind  him  of  the 
great  love  of  the  little  children  whom  he  so  devotedly  loved 
and  faithfully  cared  for  and  watched  over." 

Mr.  Messer  was  succeeded  by  Franklin  Airey,  who  is  the 
present  superintendent.  His  labors  have  also  been  most 
successful,  and  the  department  under  his  leadership  contin- 
ues to  prosper.  He  is  held  in  affectionate  esteem  by  his 
pupils  and  co-laborers.  The  department,  through  Mr. 
Airey 's  suggestion,  was  first  divided  into  classes,  and  at  this 
writing,  July,  1889,  has  twenty-six  classes.  A  promxinent 
and  effective  feature  of  Mr.  Airey's  teaching  is  his  excel- 
lent and  instructive  blackboard  exercises. 

The  largest  and  advanced  Bible-class  in  the  school  is 
taught  by  Ezra  L.  ]\Ianning  and  is  held  in  the  east  gallery 
of  the  chapel.  This  class  numbers  from  fifty  to  sixty  mem- 
bers of  men  and  women,  many  of  whom  are  heads  of  fami- 
lies.    Prominence  is  given  to  this  class  in  that  a  notice  in 


362  CHURCH   AND    SQNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  vestibule  of  the  chapel  reads,  "  Strangers'  class  up  stairs. 
Welcome."  Not  a  few  strangers  in  the  city  visiting  the 
school  have  availed  themselves  of  the  invitation  and  have 
been  encouraged,  strengthened,  and  blessed  in  the  weary 
march  of  life  by  the  helpful  and  comforting  words  of  its 
teacher. 

Mr.  Manning  is  a  close  Bible  student  and  possesses  rare 
gifts  of  imparting  Scripture  knowledge.  He  has  been 
a  teacher  in  the  school  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  and  has 
had  charge  of  his  present  class  for  five  years.  He  has  been 
solicited  to  serve  as  superintendent  to  the  school,  but  has 
declined  the  office,  believing  that  he  can  best  serve  its  in- 
terests in  his  present  capacity.  His  labors  have  been  abun- 
dantly blessed,  and  he  has  the  warm  affections  of  all  who 
have  been  privileged  to  sit  under  his  instruction.  From 
this  class  many  have  been  received  into  the  communion  of 
the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Manning  has 
also  been  an  interesting  and  successful  leader  of  the  weekly 
teachers'  meeting  of  this  and  the  home  school. 

George  P.  Holden,  a  teacher  in  the  school,  gave,  in  the 
"Gazette,"  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  teach- 
ers' meeting  under  Mr.  Manning's  leadership  during  several 
months  of  the  year  1887: 

"  The  Palestine  excursion  of  the  attendants  of  the  Fri- 
day night  meeting,  held  at  the  Nepperhari  Avenue  Baptist 
Mission  Chapel,  which  left  New  York  about  two  months 
ago  and  has  been  journeying,  in  imagination,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  has  landed  at  Jaffa  and 
proceeded  overland  as  far  as  Jerusalem.  In  the  course  of 
their  imaginary  journey,  under  the  leadership  and  guid- 
ance of  Ezra  L.  Manning,  members  of  the  party  have  been 
dropped  at  various  points  along  the  route,  who  are  expected 
to  note  the  present  appearance  of,  and  to  search  out  matters 
of  interest  in  ancient  and  especially  Biblical  history  per- 
taining to,  those  places,  and  to  communicate  to  the  other  ex- 
cursionists the  result  of  their  observations.  The  first  re- 
port, from  Elmer  J.  Manning,  described  his  landing  at 
Pozzuoli,  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and  journey  to  Rome,  along 
nearly  the  same  course  as  that  travelled  by  the  Apostle 
Paul.     The  old  Bible  history  was  made  very  graphic  and 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         363 

interesting  as  he  described  the  points  of  interest,  illustrated 
by  photographs,  as  seen  by  him  from  the  windows  of  a  rail- 
road car.  On  Friday  evening,  23d  instant,  the  resident  at 
Egypt  described  his  experience  at  Alexander  and  Cairo, 
illustrated  by  photographs  of  street  scenes  and  general 
views.  Miss  Charlotte  Taylor  gave  a  description  of  Corinth 
as  she  saw  it  in  imagination  and  cited  many  interesting 
historical  events  associated  with  that  place.  Franklin  Airey, 
the  resident  of  Athens,  told  the  tourists  how  he  roamed 
over  the  old  battlefields  and  stood  where  Xerxes  stood  to 
witness  the  great  naval  battle  renowned  in  Greek  history. 
The  excursionists  meet  every  Friday  evening  to  hear  from 
one  or  more  of  their  representatives  in  different  places. 
Aside  from  this  unique  feature,  recently  introduced,  the 
primary  object  of  the  meetings,  the  study  of  the  Sunday- 
school  lesson  is  never  slighted,  but  under  the  able  direction 
of  Ezra  L.  Manning,  whose  standing  as  a  Bible  student  and 
successful  teacher  is  well  known  to  many,  these  lessons  are 
studied  with  much  profit.  But  an  exceedingly  attractive 
feature  of  this  study  yet  remains  to  be  mentioned.  At  the 
close  of  Mr.  Manning's  remarks  Franklin  Airey  skilfully 
draws  in  colors  an  ingenious  blackboard  illustration  or 
adaptation  of  the  lesson,  and  to  his  active  brain  and  deft 
hand  those  teachers  present  are  weekly  indebted  for  a 
forceful  presentation  of  Scripture  truths  which  otherwise 
would  be  hidden  to  many.  x\t  the  close  of  the  meeting 
hektograph  copies  of  this  illustration,  with  explanatory 
notes,  are  distributed." 

Cornelius  H.  Callahan  has  charge  of  a  Bible-class  which 
gathers  in  the  northwest  gallery,  numbering  some  twenty 
young  men.  Mrs.  Dr.  Sarah  E.  Post  is  teacher  of  a  wo- 
men's Bible-class  in  the  southeast  gallery.  These,  with  Mr. 
Manning's  class,  are  the  more  advanced  Bible  -  classes. 
There  are  eighty-eight  Bible-classes  in  the  school,  most 
of  which  are  taught  in  the  main  room. 

The  school  occupied  two  evenings  for  its  Christmas 
celebration  of  1887.  On  Thursday  evening  Rev.  H.  B. 
Grose,  on  behalf  of  the  school,  presented  a  handsome  gold 
medal  to  William  J.  Bright  as  a  token  of  the  appreciation 
felt  for  his  gratuitous  services  as  cornetist.     The  medal  is  a 


364  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

handsome  piece  of  workmanship  and  on  the  face  are  the 
words  "  Xmas,  1887,"  with  a  monogram  of  the  recipient. 
The  reverse  side  bears  this  inscription,  "  Presented  by  the 
Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  Sunday-school."  Dur- 
the  evening  the  school  was  presented  with  a  handsome 
crayon  portrait  of  Miss  Caroline  H.  Tripler,  who  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  Poor  Fund  of  the  school  since  its  organiza- 
tion, twenty-four  years  ago,  which  had  been  obtained  to 
adorn  the  chapel  walls  through  the  contributions  of  the 
various  classes.  Miss  Tripler  had  not  been  photographed 
for  forty  years,  and  it  was  only  after  much  persuasion  that 
she  would  consent  to  have  the  picture  taken  from  which  the 
portrait  was  copied.  Rev.  H.  B.  Grose,  acting  pastor  of  the 
Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  made  the  presentation 
speeches. 

The  annual  midsummer  excursion  of  this  school  and 
the  home  school  took  place  on  Thursday,  July  12,  -1888, 
when  the  steamboat  "  Sirius  "  carried  them  down  the  Hud- 
son River,  through  New  York  Bay,  around  Staten  Island, 
through  Raritan  Bay  to  Boynton  Beach,  N.  J.,  where  ample 
apportunity  was  afforded  for  luncheon,  games,  and  boating. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  this 
school  was  observed  with  an  interesting  service  in  the 
chapel  on  Sunday  afternoon,  November  11,  1888.  The  aud- 
ience-room was  tastefully  decorated  for  the  occasion.  Upon 
the  wall,  back  of  the  superintendent's  desk,  hung  three 
large  portraits,  those  of  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Bright,  the  foun- 
der of  the  school,  John  A.  Amelung,  a  former  superintend- 
ent, and  Miss  C.  H.  Tripler,  treasurer  of  the  foor  Fund. 
Upon  either  side  in  colored  letters  a  foot  long  were  the 
years  covered  by  the  organization  of  the  school,  1863 — 1888. 
There  were  802  children  present,  while  the  visitors  swelled 
this  number  to  about  one  thousand.  Among  those  seated 
upon  the  platform  were  WilHam  H.  Belknap,  Superintend- 
ent ;  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Bright,  editor  of  the  "  New  York  Ex- 
aminer ;"  James  B.  Colgate,  John  B.  Trevor,  Rev.  Henry 
Bromley,  George  M.  Bailey,  Dr.  R.  Oliver  Phillips,  Rev. 
Dr.  David  Cole,  Rev.  William  H.  Doane,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Alvah 
S.  Hobart.  Acting  Superintendent  W.  W.  Middlebrook 
presided. 


NEPPERHAN  AVENUE   MISSION    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         365 

The  exercises  were  opened  with  the  hymn,  "  Heavenly 
Father,  send  thy  blessing,"  Prof.  Edwin  Moore  leading, 
with  accompaniment  by  John  Bright  and  W.  J.  Bright  on 
cornets,  and  by  Miss  Hattie  Middlebrook  on  the  piano. 
The  primary  department  sang  sweetly,  "  Tell  it  to  Jesus," 
accompanied  by  Miss  Mattie  Warren  at  the  piano,  Cornelius 
H.  Callahan  directing.  After  a  responsive  reading  ex-su- 
perintendent Phillips  offered  prayer.  A  triple  quartette- 
composed  of  Misses  Bertha  Odell,  Lillie  Halsey,  and  Annie 
Kip,  soprano ;  Misses  Priscilla  Van  Tassel,  Grace  King, 
and  Clara  Mott,  alto ;  C.  H.  Callahan,  Wilber  Hammond, 
and  Charles  Manning,  tenor  ;  and  Charles  W.  Ackerman, 
Charles  E.  See,  and  Wilson  D.  Youmans,  bass — then  sang 
very  pleasantly  an  anthem.  Miss  Odell  taking  the  solo  part. 

E.  L.  Manning,  treasurer,  read  his  report  for  the  year, 
showing  a  balance  on  hand  of  $72  10.  The  church  and 
school  collections  amounted  to  $418  54;  $875  was  received 
from  friends.  Missionary  work  took  $550,  and  the  Publica- 
tion Society,  $245  48. 

Miss  C.  H.  Tripler  presented  her  twenty-fifth  annual 
report  of  the  Poor  Fund.  Receipts,  $707  12;  expenditure 
for  clothing,  etc.,  $657  80 ;  balance,  $49  32.  During  the 
year  102  scholars  have  been  aided.  Cast-off  garments  were 
donated  by  friends  of  the  school,  and  fifty  garments  were 
made  by  the  ladies  of  the  society  from  material  purchased 
by  the  school. 

The  Secretary,  George  T.  Leeds,  followed  with  his  re- 
port, which  showed  the  total  attendance  for  the  year  as 
31,298,  against  28,455  for  1887;  enrolment  for  1887,  885; 
for  1888,958;  average  attendance  for  1887,  545;  for  1888, 
601;  number  of  classes  for  1887,74;  in  1888,  78.  The 
average  attendance  during  the  year  was  601  ;  the  largest  on 
any  one  Sunday,  746  ;  the  smallest,  238. 

"  Learning  we  had  one  scholar  during  the  past  year  who 
had  been  present  every  Sunday  for  a  long  time  led  the  offi- 
cials to  look  up  records  of  the  other  pupils  on  the  main 
floor,  with  the  following  results :  Miss  Vinnie  Button  had 
been  present  every  Sunday  during  four  and  a  half  years. 
Miss  Minnie  Hull  had  been  absent  only  once  each  year  for 
the  past  five  years.     Minnie  Feakins  present  every  Sunday 


366  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

for  four  years.  Frank  Ryer,  Johnnie  Simpson,  Nellie  Yerks 
have  each  been  present  every  vSunday  for  the  last  year. 
Miss  Maggie  Jones,  Annie  Hull,  Mary  Hull,  Wellie  Kellock, 
Frank  Brady,  Harry  Walsh,  and  William  Bright  were  ab- 
sent but  once  during  the  past  year.  The  following  were  ab- 
sent but  twice  in  that  time :  Emma  Grose,  Lillian  Yerks, 
William  Graham,  George  Wright,  Wilbur  Feakins,  and 
William  Wright.  Ella  Manning  and  Paul  Hogan,  from  the 
primary  department,  have  each  been  absent  but  one  Sun- 
day during  the  past  year.  Twenty-four  scholars  have  joined 
the  church  by  baptism." 

Wm.  P.  East,  librarian,  reported  that  during  the  year 
there  had  been  no  additions  to  the  library.  Total  number 
of  volumes,  445.  He  said  that  there  was  a  real  need  of 
more  books.  During  the  year  4,500  lesson  helps  were  dis- 
tributed. "Just  here,"  said  Mr.  East,  "it  seems  fitting  to 
acknowledge  the  valuable  assistance  rendered  by  Messrs. 
Henry  S.,  Frank  R.,  and  Halsey  A.  Hathaway  in  library 
work  during  the  past  year." 

After  a  solo  by  Miss  Minnie  Warren,  entitled,  "  Jesus 
Found  Me,"  with  chorus  by  the  primary  department,  Frank- 
lin Airey,  director  of  that  department,  reported  the  full  at- 
tendance for  1888  as  13,619,  against  11,701  for  1887;  average 
per  Sunday  :  1888,  262  ;  1887,  225  ;  enrolment,  433.  He  said 
that  there  was  one  thing  that  caused  a  feeling  of  great  sat- 
isfaction, the  fact  that  the  average  attendance  had  im- 
proved. "  There  is  great  need  of  four  or  five  more  teachers. 
The  department  is  overcrowded.  In  my  judgment,  what 
the  school  most  needs  is  an  intermediate  department,  to 
take  at  least  100  scholars  from  the  primary  department  at 
once,  but  this  will  require  alterations  and  cost." 

The  report  of  Miss  E.  Holmes,  the  visitor,  showed  that 
during  the  year  the  number  of  absentees  called  upon  was 
4,193  ;  scholars  brought  into  the  school,  104 ;  scholars  sent  to 
Miss  Tripler,  treasurer  of  the  poor  department,  for  aid,  83. 

The  acting  superintendent,  W.  W.  Middlebrook,  read  a 
long  and  interesting  report.  He  referred  to  the  establish- 
ment of  the  school  in  1863,  and  to  the  remarkable  coinci- 
dence that  the  sum  of  the  figures  in  1888  is  25.  "  We  are 
twenty-five  years  old,  and  I  do  not  think  we  are  very  small 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE    MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        367 

of  our  age,  but  I  hope  that  when  we  shall  have  rounded  out 
a  half  a  century,  the  school  will  not  only  have  doubled 
but  quadrupled  in  size.  I  presume  you  have  listened  with 
interest  to  the  reports  of  the  officers  of  our  school.  They 
give  you,  in  brief,  the  work  accomplished  and  the  present 
standing  and  equipment  of  the  school.  The  school  has 
been  a  success  and  a  power  for  good  in  this  community 
from  the  very  start.  Each  year  has  been  marked  by  prog- 
ress in  one  direction  or  another." 

Pleasant  references  were  made  by  Superintendent  Mid- 
dlebrook  to  teachers  W.  L.  Halsey  and  W.  Papps,  who  have 
been  connected  with  the  school  about  23  years. 

"  Death  has  visited  our  school  twice  the  past  year,  once 
taking  a  little  one  and  again  one  over  whose  head  many 
years  had  passed.  Our  primary  department  has  steadily 
increased  in  membership  and  gained  in  average  attendance. 
I  hope  that  what  the  superintendent  said  of  his  needs  may 
fall  on  fruitful  ground.  We  can't  afford  to  slight  the  little 
ones,  as  upon  them  we  must  depend  in  the  years  to  come. 
Our  Poor  Fund  report  is  very  interesting  and  encouraging. 
I  am  told  that  the  collections  are  larger  than  ever  before. 

"  Prior  to  this  year  the  finances  of  the  school  have  been 
attended  to  by  the  executive  officers,  but  circumstances 
made  it  so  that  the  treasurer  had  the  responsibility  of  that 
matter.  A  finance  committee  consisting  of  the  following 
gentlemen  has  been  appointed,  viz. :  Messrs.  William  H. 
Belknap,  chairman,  Frank  Airey,  C.  H.  Callahan,  A.  J.  Fea- 
kins,  and  E.  L.  Manning,  treasurer. 

"  That  item  of  donations  by  friends  of  $857  is  grand.  It 
costs  us  $1,500  a  year  to  run  our  school  in  addition  to  the 
expense  of  janitor,  coal,  gas,  and  repairs  on  the  building, 
which  are  met  by  the  church." 

Superintendent  Middlebrook  in  conclusion  said,  "  I 
close  with  the  prayer  that  He  who  rules  above  will  guide 
us  as  a  school  and  individuals  and  bring  us  all  at  last  to  the 
rest  prepared  for  those  who  have  been  washed  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb." 

Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends,  of  Brooklyn,  a  former  pas- 
tor, had  been  expected  at  the  anniversary,  but  his  duties  at 
home  prevented  his  attendance. 


368  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

After  the  singing  of  the  hymn,  "  Glory,  Praise,  and 
Honor,"  and  the  dismissal  of  the  primary  department,  Rev. 
Dr.  Bright  •  was  introduced  and  spoke  briefly  of  the  early 
history  of  the  school. 

A  part  of  the  school  then  joined,  with  Miss  Lena  Gracie 
as  leader,  in  the  responsive  reading  of  "  Twenty-five  years' 
work  for  Jesus."  Rev.  Henry  Bromley  also  gave  personal 
reminiscences  of  its  early  history. 

The  singing  of  the  hymn,  "  May  every  Year,"  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  recitation  from  Miss  Edna  Randall,  entitled 
"  Not  in  Vain."  Rev.  Dr.  Hobart  followed  with  brief  re- 
marks. 

The  service  was  closed  with  hymn,  "  Forward,  Be  Our 
Watchword,"  and  the  Lord's  Prayer  recited  in  unison,  led 
by  George  M.  Bailey,  superintendent  of  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Sunday-school. 

The  school  has  a  printed  Constitution  and  By-laws, 
adopted  in  1885,  by  which  it  is  governed.  The  superintend- 
ent, assistant-superintendent,  and  treasurer  constitute  an 
executive  committee,  and  no  important  decision  is  reached 
and  carried  into  effect  without  the  entire  approval  of  this 
committee.  Another  important  and  noteworthy  article  of 
the  Constitution  states  that  the  qualifications  required  for  a 
teacher  shall  be  a  practical  experience  of  religion  and 
membership  in  an  evangelical  church. 

An  interesting  meeting  of  the  Yonkers  Bible  and 
Prayer  Union  was  held  at  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist 
Mission  Chapel  on  Monday  evening,  November  12,  1888. 
James  G.  Afileck  presided.  Miss  Emma  Copeman  read  a  pa- 
per on  the  Epistle  of  Titus,  Miss  Parsons  on  ist  Timothy, 
Miss  Graham  on  2d  Timothy,  and  Miss  Jewel  on  the  Epistle 
of  Philemon.  The  papers  read  were  very  instructive  and 
evinced  careful  study  and  preparation  on  the  part  of  the 
writers. 

The  spacious  auditorium  of  the  chapel  was  filled  with 
the  children  of  the  school  who  had  met  to  celebrate  the 
Christmas  festivities  of  1888.  The  exercises  were  interest- 
ing, the  various  recitations  being  interspersed  with  carols 
by  the  school.  Dr.  R.  O.  Phillips  read  a  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture and  George  M.  Bailey  offered  prayer. 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         369 

Each  boy  had  a  parcel  and  Santa  Clans  opened  each  of 
the  parcels.  They  contained  presents  for  the  officers  and 
teachers  of  the  school.  One  was  a  handsome  portfolio  con- 
taining a  set  of  resolutions,  an  exceptionally  fine  specimen 
of  artistic  penmanship,  from  the  school  to  Superintendent 
Belknap,  on  the  occasion  of  his  retiring  from  office.  Per- 
haps all  the  children  did  not  know  that  Santa  Claus  was 
their  good  friend  Charles  W.  Ackerman. 

A  general  distribution  of  toys  and  bags  brought  the 
festival  to  a  close.  The  presents  were  designed  with  a  lib- 
eral hand,  and  of  about  a  thousand  children  in  the  whole 
school  not  one  was  overlooked. 

Interesting  services  were  held  in  the  chapel  on  Mon- 
day, December  31,  1888.  The  services  were  as  follows: 
8  to  8 :  45,  Bible-reading,  led  by  Mrs.  A.  S.  Hobart,  the  pas- 
tor's wife,  subject  being  "  Watch  ;"  from  9  to  9  :  45,  song  ser- 
vice ;  from  10  to  10 :  45,  consecration  ;  from  11 :  50  to  12  :  05, 
prayers.  Several  of  the  members  of  the  Young  People's 
Prayer-meeting  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church 
took  part  in  the  services,  which  were  very  solemn  and  im- 
pressive. 

A  delightful  reception  was  given  by  the  officers  and 
teachers  of  this  and  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Sun- 
day-school to  Rev.  Dr.  A.  S.  Hobart,  pastor  of  the  Warbur- 
ton Avenue  Baptist  Church,  previous  to  his  departure  for 
Europe  on  his  summer  vacation,  on  Friday  evening,  June 
28,  1889,  in  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Mission  Chapel.  Dr. 
Hobart  sailed  on  the  Cunard  steamer  "  Umbria"  July  6,  to 
be  absent  two  months. 

On  Tuesday,  July  i6,  1889,  the  annual  picnic  day  of 
the  two  schools  was  spent  at  Oscawana  Island,  about  three 
hours'  sail  up  the  Hudson  River. 

The  elder  scholars  of  the  school  had  their  Christmas 
festival  on  Thursday  evening,  December  26,  1889,  in  con- 
nection with  the  home  school  in  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church.  The  exercises  began  with  the  singing  of 
"  Caroling  Glory,"  by  the  school.  Dr.  R.  Oliver  Phillips 
read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Alvah  S.  Hobart 
offered  prayer.  After  another  carol,  Stanley  H.  Ray  read 
part  of  the  second  chapter  of  St.  Luke. 

Chnrcb  and  Sunday-school  Work.  2A. 


370  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

Twenty  young-  ladies  and  gentlemen  sang  together, 
and  Dr.  Hobart  followed  with  an  appropriate  address. 

A  cantata,  "  The  Crown  of  the  Year,"  was  participated 
in  by  about  fifty  scholars,  twelve  of  whom  represented  the 
months  of  the  year.  Father  Time  sat  on  a  large  throne, 
with  hour-glass  and  scythe,  and  was  to  judge  which  month 
should  wear  the  golden  crown  for  bringing  the  best  bless- 
ing to  men.  Each  month  came  before  Judge  Time,  and, 
with  speech  and  song,  laid  before  him  its  claim  upon  the 
crown.  When  all  the  months  had  shown  forth  their  glories. 
Father  Time  stepped  down  from  the  throne  and  placed  the 
crown  upon  the  head  of  December,  for  in  that  month  the 
Lord  was  born — the  greatest  blessing  to  men. 

The  singing  was  led  by  Prof.  Edwin  Moore  ;  Miss  Mid- 
dlebrook,  piano,  and  W.  J.  Bright,  cornet.  Besides  bags  of 
nuts,  candy,  and  oranges,  many  of  the  scholars  received 
books  and  Christmas  cards  from  their  teachers.  Elmer  J. 
Manning  received  a  handsome  parlor  lamp  from  his  class  of 
young  ladies.  James  G.  Affleck  received  a  gold  pen  and 
pearl  penholder  from  his  class  of  boys.  Miss  Manning  re- 
ceived a  handsome  embossed-leather  writing-case  from  her 
scholars.  There  were  a  number  of  other  class  presenta- 
tions. 

The  festival  of  the  primary  department  was  held  the 
following  evening,  Friday,  December,  27,  1889,  in  the 
Mission  Chapel.  Frank  Airey,  director  of  the  primary 
school,  presided  and  introduced  the  several  actors  in  the 
programme  of  exercises. 

The  Bible-reading  was  by  Stanley  H.  Ray,  and  prayer 
was  offered  by  T.  H.  Messer.  The  hymn,  "  Hosanna  in  the 
Highest,"  was  sung  by  the  school,  and  recitations  were 
given  by  the  following  children :  Millie  Niel,  Gracy  Bailey, 
Lulu  Armstrong,  Ida  Graham,  Nettie  Handley.  A  dia- 
logue, exercise,  and  song,  "  We  All  Can  Do  Good,"  was 
spoken  by  a  number  of  boys  and  girls,  and  "  Golden 
Keys"  was  recited  by  Florence  Ball. 

The  appearance  of  Santa  Claus,  in  costume,  was  greet- 
ed with  enthusiastic  applause  by  the  children. 

After  the  presentation  of  a  gift  to  Superintendent  Airey 
from  the  children  of  the  primary  department,  the  order  of 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.        37 1 

exercises  was  then  resumed.  "  Christmas  Is  Coming  "  was 
recited  by  Emma  Crombley.  "  My  Speech,"  by  Fernando 
Huglies,  Jr.,  was  so  well  given  that  it  was  encored.  A  song, 
"  Little  New  Years,"  was  sung  by  Kittie  Allison  ;  a  recita- 
tion, "  Lost  Doll,"  was  given  by  Nettie  Dutton.  After  a 
carol,  "  Welcome  the  Saviour,"  by  a  number  of  boys  and 
girls,  came  the  following  recitations :  "  Christmas,"  by 
Jennie  Clapperton  ;  "  Little  Boy's  Piece,"  by  Lanney  See  ; 
"  Fol  de  Rol,"  by  Daisy  Hatfield  ;  and  "  I  Can  Speak,"  by 
Edwin  Hughes. 

Exercises,  with  singing  and  tableaux,  followed,  show- 
ing the  young  Christian  putting  on  the  armor  of  right- 
eousness and  starting  on  his  journey  to  the  celestial  land. 
The  tableaux  illustrated  respectively  his  arrival  at  the  gate 
of  heaven,  his  admission  there  among  the  shining  throng, 
and  his  receiving  a  crown  of  glory. 

The  exercises  of  the  twenty-sixth  anniversary  of  the 
Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mission  Sunday-school  were 
held  on  Sunday  afternoon,  November  10,  1889.  Wm.  H. 
Baldwin  the  Superintendent,  presided.  There  was  some 
excellent  singing,  and  a  blackboard  illustration  of  the  lesson 
by  Frank  Airey,  director  of  the  primary  department. 

The  annual  report  was  read,  showing  998  on  the  roll,  in- 
cluding officers  and  72  teachers,  and  that  the  average  attend- 
ance was  597.  It  needed  but  two  more  names  to  make 
the  number  enrolled  1,000.  The  school  is  divided  into 
seventy-nine  classes.  The  enrolment  for  the  year  1888  was 
as  follows;  Bible-classes,  91;  intermediate,  436;  primary, 
374 ;  teachers,  72  ;  officers,  12  ;  total,  995.  The  treasurer,  E. 
L.  Manning,  reported :  Receipts,  $1,548  20;  disbursements, 
$1,407  27;  balance,  $140  93. 

The  visitor.  Miss  Lizzie  Holmes,  had  made  3,221  visits 
during  the  year. 

The  Sunday-school  library  had  been  enlarged  last  year 
by  a  generous  gift  of  Dr.  Phillips.  Books  full  of  truth, 
wide  awake,  modern,  dealing  with  subjects  of  common 
interest,  but  written  with  a  reverent  Christian  spirit,  were 
added,  and  the  result  has  been  that  they  are  constantly  in 
use.  In  the  course  of  the  year  two  deaths  had  occurred 
among  the  pupils,  and  3 1  had  been  baptized. 


372  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

A  reception  was  given  at  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Bap- 
tist Mission,  in  February,  1890,  by  the  officers  of  the  Sunday- 
school  to  the  teachers. 

There  was  a  very  happy  gathering  ;  and  Miss  Bertha 
Odell,  Miss  Fuller,  Miss  Stapleton,  Willard  Carpenter, 
William  J.  Bright,  and  Winfield  S.  Van  Wagner  furnished 
an  excellent  musical  programme. 

The  feature  of  the  evening  was  a  presentation  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  A.  J.  Feakins,  who,  after  twenty  years  of  labor  in 
the  Mission  School,  have  removed  to  New  York  City.  The 
gifts  were  a  handsome  clock  and  two  bronze  ornaments  rep- 
resenting Music  and  Poetry,  which  rested  on  a  table  and 
were  profusely  ornamented  with  roses,  and  handsomely 
engrossed  resolutions,  passed  by  the  teachers  and  scholars 
of  the  school  in  grateful  recognition  of  their  services  in 
the  school. 

The  duties  of  the  secretary  of  the  Teachers'  Association 
of  this  school  is  as  follows  ;  "  The  secretary  shall  keep  care- 
fully and  in  good  order  the  register  and  minute  books  of 
the  school,  and  report  weekly  to  the  superintendent  the  ab- 
sence of  officers  and  teachers,  together  with  the  statistics 
of  the  school ;  also  he  shall  keep  the  minutes  of  the  business 
meetings  and  do  all  the  necessary  writing  of  the  association." 
Henry  Skinner  Hathaway — a  graduate  of  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  and  a  recent 
graduate  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  and  Hos- 
pital of  that  city,  filled  this  office  with  great  acceptance  for 
over  six  years. 

Rev.  W.  Crozier,  now  a  professor  in  Colgate  Univer- 
sity, was  a  former  pupil  of  this  school. 

The  lesson  helps  used  by  the  school  are  all  from  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  in  four  grades,  viz ; 
"  The  Baptist  Teacher"  and  advanced,  intermediate,  and 
primary  lesson  quarterlies.  The  singing  books  are  "  The 
Alleluia"  and  "  Our  Sunday-school  Songs,"  edited  by  E.  H. 
Johnson. 

The  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Sunday-school  is  the 
leading  one  in  the  city,  and  the  largest  Sunday-school  in 
Westchester  County.  It  has  been  remarkably  blessed  in  that 
it  has  had  from  its  organization  for  its  superintendents  most 


NEPPERHAN   AVENUE   MISSION    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.         373 

devoted,  earnest,  and  faithful  men,  who  in  their  ministry 
as  helpers  and  friends,  rejoiced  to  spend  and  be  spent  in 
their  service  for  the  Master  and  for  others. 

This  school,  in  its  general  management,  is  character- 
ized by  promptness,  method,  heartiness,  and  attention  to 
details  that  testify  to  the  controlling  influence  of  its  chief 
officer,  the  superintendent.  Everything  works  with  the 
regularity  of  a  clock,  without  friction.  There  is  no  hesita- 
tion, no  confusion,  and  little  matters  which  are  apt  to  be 
despised  or  overlooked  in  some  Sunday-schools,  receive 
attention  and  added  zest.  In  these  particulars  it  is  similar 
to  the  renowned  Bethany  Sunday-school  of  Philadelphia 
which  is  superintended  by  Postmaster-General  John  Wana- 
maker.  From  this  school  many  have  been  gathered  into 
the  communion  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church, 
and  some  have  become  communicants  of  other  churches  in 
the  city  and  elsewhere. 

The  superintendents  who  have  served  successively  this 
school  are  as  follows :  Rev.  Edward  Bright,  D.  D.,  who  was 
the  first  superintendent  and  served  nine  years,  elected  No- 
vember 2, 1863  ;  Mr.  Van  Kirk ;  Mr.  Eddy ;  John  A.  Amelung, 
in  office  for  six  years;  A.  J.  Feakins,  acting  superintendent; 
R.  Oliver  Phillips,  M.  D. ;  William  H.  Belknap  ;  W.  W.  Mid- 
dlebook,  acting  superintendent ;  and  W.  Henry  Baldwin, 
elected  January  i,  1889.  Resigned  1890,  succeeded  by  Ster- 
ling F.  Haywood. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are :  Sterling  F. 
Haywood,  Superintendent ;  W.  W.  Middlebrook,  First  As- 
sistant Superintendent;  George  T.  Leeds,  Second  Assist- 
ant Superintendent ;  Willard  S.  Sherwood,  Secretary ;  E.  L. 
Manning,  Treasurer  ;  Frank  Airey,  Director  t*rimary  De- 
partment ;  H.  Alexander  Hathaway,  Librarian  ;  William 
Halley,  Assistant  Librarian ;  Miss  C.  H.  Tripler,  Treas- 
urer Poor  Fund. 

The  Sunday-school  record  book  includes  the  follow- 
ing teachers  for  1889-90:  James  G.  Affleck,  Mrs.  Sarah  M. 
Archer,  Miss  Jennie  M.  Arbuckle,  Miss  Jessie  Austin, 
Arthur  D.  Ballard,  Miss  H.  Etta  Burns,  Miss  Olivia  Burns^ 
Miss  Gertrude  L.  Burns,  Cornelius  H.  Callahan,  Mr.  Chad- 
burn,  Miss  Emma  Coapman,  Miss  Jane  C.  Davis,  Gustave 


374  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Desgrey,  Miss  Donnelly,  Miss  Susie  E.  Drinkwater,  Miss 
Dunlap,  Miss  Lizzie  East,  Miss  Mary  Hudson  East,  Josiah 
East,  Richard  Edie,  Jr.,  Miss  Maggie  Farmer,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
W.  Feakins,  Mrs.  Nancy  Frankenburg,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Freethy, 
Miss  L.  Matilda  Fuller,  Miss  Christena  Fulton,  Miss  Emily 
Gault,  Miss  Kate  Gracy,  Miss  Kate  A.  Graham,  Miss  Anna 
Grieve,  Miss  Jennie  Hadden,  Wm.  S.  Halsey,  Mrs.  Halsey, 
George  P.  Holden,  Miss  Mary  Holden,  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Holmes,  James  E.  Howes,  Miss  Jennie  D.  Hull,  Howard  T. 
James,  Miss  Effie  May  Jackson,  Miss  Jennie  B.  Jewell,  Miss 
Eva  Mackey,  Miss  Annie  Mathews,  Miss  Mary  McHenry, 
Ezra  L.  Manning,  Elmer  J.  Manning,  Miss  Carrie  Manning, 
Charles  E.  Manning,  Miss  Beulah  S.  Messer,  Miss  Hattie 
A.  Middlebrook,  Harry  R.  Middlebrook,  Miss  Grace  New- 
man, Mrs.  L.  H.  Odell,  Mrs.  Emma  Oliver,  William  Papps, 
Miss  Jennie  W.  Papps,  Miss  Florence  Parsons,  Dr.  Sarah 
E.  Post,  Miss  Mattie  L.  Prote,  Miss  Jennie  Prote,  Miss 
Elvina  Robinson  James  C.  Scott,  Miss  Mary  O.  Scott,  Mrs. 
Catherine  A.  Sherwood,  Marcus  W.  Sherwood,  Mrs.  Martha 
J.  Sherwood,  Miss  Lulu  Smith,  William  G.  Stahlnecker, 
Jr.,  Miss  Tillie  J.  Stapleton,  William  S.  Southerland,  Miss 
Addie  Swan,  Miss  Cornelia  L.  Tarbell,  Miss  Charlotte  Tay- 
lor, Mrs.  Catherine  A.  Thomas,  Miss  Caroline  H.  Tripler, 
Miss  Priscilla  Van  Tassell,  Miss  Emma  Van  Wagner,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Walsh,  Miss  Minnie  Warren,  and  Miss  Amy  L.  Wolf. 


WOODHILL   UNION   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  375 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

WOODHILL   UNION   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In  the  old  district  schoolhouse  located  on  the  corner 
of  the  Sawmill  River  and  Tuckahoe  roads,  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  Yonkers  City  Hall,  which  was  the  birth- 
place of  the  first  Sunday-school  in  Yonkers,  a  Sunday- 
school  was  opened  in  the  spring  of  1858  by  Cornelius  W. 
Thomas,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Hastings,  N.  Y. 

This  school  was  opened  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Mr.  Thomas  was  assisted  by  the  following  teachers  :  Mrs. 
Abram  Baxter,  Mrs.  Thomas  Smith,  Mrs.  Wyckoff,  Mrs. 
Frederick  Conklin,  Miss  Amanda  Pulver,  Miss  Jane  Sher- 
wood, j\Iiss  Lena  Miller,  JNIiss  Jane  Hains,  Wallace  Pulver, 
and  Nicholas  Furzman.  Mr.  Pulver  was  chosen  secretary 
and  filled  the  office  with  great  acceptance  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Thomas  was  elected  Superintendent  and  Treasurer. 

The  school,  which  opened  with  not  more  than  twelve 
or  fifteen  pupils,  in  a  few  months  numbered  between  forty- 
five  and  fifty  scholars  in  its  average  attendance,  and  during 
Mr.  Thomas'  superintendency  of  three  years  the  enrol- 
ment was  over  eighty  scholars.  Superintendent  Thomas 
was  a  fine  singer  and  took  much  pleasure  in  cultivating  the 
musical  talents  of  the  children.  He  was  ably  assisted  in 
this  department  of  work  by  Mr.  Pulver,  an  attractive 
and  prominent  feature  of  the  school  being  its  good  sing- 
ing. 

The  lesson  helps  used  by  the  school  were  the  publica- 
tions of  the  American  Sunday-school  Union  and  the  Amer- 
ican Tract  Society. 

After  Mr.  Thomas'  resignation  Wallace  Pulver  was 
elected  Superintendent,  and  served  two  years.  During  this 
time  a  considerable  amount  of  money  was  raised  for  benev- 
olent purposes,  and  the  monthly  missionary  meetings  held 
by  the  school  were  full  of  interest  and  enthusiasm.  Pleas- 
ant remembrances  are  recalled  of  the  addresses  of  Rev.  W. 


376  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

W.  Rand,  D.  D.,  of  Yonkers,  who  favored  the  school  with. 
his  presence  on  several  of  those  occasions. 

After  Mr.  Pulver's  resignation  the  school  declined  con- 
siderably in  its  attendance  and  was  finally  discontinued 
during  the  following  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  the  school  was  reopened  by 
Henry  B.  Odell,  who  resided  one  mile  beyond  the  old 
school  building.  Mr.  Odell  gave  the  use  of  his  dining- 
room  for  the  school,  which  at  its  reopening  numbered 
twelve  scholars.  He  was  assisted  in  this  enterprise  by 
Mrs.  Odell,  who  led  the  singing  and  presided  at  the  par- 
lor organ  which  they  kindly  loaned  for  the  use  of  the 
school. 

Mr.  Odell's  house  was  nearer  the  homes  of  the  chil- 
dren who  resided  in  that  locality  and  of  those  who  attend- 
ed the  school  from  the  country  district  of  Hastings  than  its 
former  location.  In  a  few  months  the  dining-room  became 
too  small,  and  the  school  adjourned  to  an  out-building  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Odell. 

Rev.  Thomas  R.  G.  Peck,  then  the  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Hastings,  became  very  much  interested 
in  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school  and  proposed  the  holding 
of  religious  services  on  Sunday  evenings.  Mr.  Peck's  prop- 
osition met  with  a  cordial  response  from  the  people  of  that 
section,  and  a  Sunday  evening  service  was  begun  and  for  a 
number  of  weeks  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Peck,  who 
was  assisted  by  some  of  the  members  of  his  church  at  Has- 
tings. 

The  attendance  at  these  Sunday  evening  meetings 
increased  until  the  building  was  too  small  to  accommodate 
those  who  desired  to  become  attendants.  This  led  to  the 
suggestion  of  building  a  mission  chapel.  To  further  this 
plan  a  fair  was  held  in  a  tent  on  the  grounds  of  Cornelius 
M.  Odell,  adjoining  the  present  site  of  the  chapel.  The 
fair  was  held  for  three  days  and  netted  the  sum  of  $1,300. 
Another  fair  and  entertainments  followed,  from  which 
were  realized  $1,000.  Among  the  number  who  took  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  these  fairs  and  entertain- 
ments are  recalled  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Odell,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Abram  Odell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Odell,  Miss  Fannie  Dud- 


WOODHILL   UNION   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  377 

ley,  Wallace  Pulver,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Varian,  Mr,  and 
Mrs.  Abram  Baxter. 

In  due  time,  from  the  proceeds  of  these  fairs  and  other 
entertainments,  a  chapel  was  built  on  a  quarter  of  an  acre 
of  ground  which  was  near  the  residence  of  Henry  Odell, 
and  which  was  given  by  him  for  that  purpose.  The  chapel 
was  a  neat  wooden  structure  with  a  small  belfry.  The 
seating  capacity  was  three  hundred.  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  a  little  over  $3,000,  including  the  furniture. 

The  chapel  was  opened  without  any  formal  dedication 
in  1868.  Services  were  held  there  on  Sunday  evenings  for 
a  number  of  years,  usually  conducted  by  Rev.  Thomas  R. 
G.  Peck,  who  was  assisted  by  some  of  the  pastors  of  the 
Yonkers  churches  and  some  of  the  laymen  connected  with 
the  churches  of  Yonkers  and  the  church  at  Hastings. 
Monthly  services  of  song  were  held  and  the  interest  in  the 
work  at  the  chapel  deepened.  The  attendance  averaged 
one  hundred  and  fifty  on  Sunday  evenings. 

Pleasant  entertainments  were  held,  the  receipts  of 
which  were  devoted  to  the  payment  of  the  expenses  of  the 
chapel  and  Sunday-school,  which  then  took  the  name  of 
"  Woodhill  Union  Sunday-school." 

Luther  Chambers,  John  B.  Wells,  James  Varian,  Dan- 
iel Curry,  Wallace  Pulver,  and  Henry  B.  Odell  were  ap- 
pointed trustees  of  the  chapel. 

The  Sunday-school,  under  the  leadership  of  its  Super- 
intendent, Henry  B.  Odell,  increased  to  116  scholars,  and 
before  Mr.  Odell's  removal  to  Yonkers  had  on  its  record 
book  125  pupils.  During  Mr.  Odell's  absence  on  account 
of  ill-health  Wallace  Pulver  acted  as  Superintendent,  and 
also  had  charge  of  the  young  ladies'  Bible-class.  James 
Austin  was  the  Secretary  of  the  school  for  a  brief  period  at 
this  time. 

Oliver  Chambers  (now  Dr.  Oliver  Chambers,  of  Scran- 
ton,  Pa.),  who  was  a  teacher  in  the  school,  was  also  Acting 
Superintendent  for  a  brief  period.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  B. 
Wells,  Miss  Tompkins,  Miss  Mary  Odell  (now  Mrs.  Abram 
Austin),  Mrs.  James  B.  Haines,  Mrs.  Stomenger,  Mrs. 
Drinkwater,  Mrs.  Moore,  Miss  Gussie  Austin,  Miss  Jose- 
phine Wells,  Miss  Rachel  Martin,  James  Austin,  Abram 


378  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Austin,  Henry  Curry,  and  others  whose  names  cannot  be 
recalled,  were  teachers  in  the  school  at  this  time. 

The  International  Series  of  Lessons  was  then  used  in 
the  school  and  "The  Child's  Paper,"  published  by  the 
American  Tract  Society,  was  circulated.  The  singing 
books  used  were  "  Happy  Voices "  and  "  Brightest  and 
Best,"  by  William  Bradbury. 

The  contributions  of  the  school  were  donated  to  the 
American  Tract  Society. 

In  1875,  owing  to  the  removal  of  a  number  of  the 
prominent  supporters  of  the  work  at  Woodhill,  the  chapel 
services  were  discontinued.  During  this  year  Henry  B. 
Odell  and  family  and  some  of  the  teachers  changed  their 
residence  to  Yonkers  and  others  moved  to  New  York, 
which  greatly  reduced  the  attendance  of  the  school. 

In  the  winter  of  1875-76  Oliver  Chambers  took  charge 
of  the  school.  He  was  assisted  by  G.  Livingston  Morse, 
an  officer  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers,  who 
also  had  entire  charge  of  the  school  during  1877-78.  At 
this  time,  owing  to  the  decrease  of  the  population  in  the 
surrounding  neighborhood,  the  number  of  pupils  had  de- 
creased to  about  fifty,  and  the  school  was  discontinued  for 
two  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  William  Allen  Butler,  Jr.,  a 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers, 
assumed  by  request  the  charge  of  the  school,  and  contin- 
ued in  charge  until  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  when  it 
was  again  closed  for  want  of  helpers  to  properly  carry  it  on. 

In  1883-84  H.  C.  Fuller,  of  Hastings,  carried  on  the 
school  during  the  summer  months,  after  which  it  was 
again  closed. 

The  latest  information  of  this  little  Sunday-school  is 
given  in  the  following  note  : 

North  Yonkers,  March  4,  1888. 
"  Miss  Kirkwood  :  I  received  a  letter  from  you  some 
time  ago  asking  for  information  concerning  the  Woodhill 
Chapel  Sunday-school.  The  little  Sunday-school  has  not 
amounted  to  very  much  this  winter.  The  chapel  has  been 
so  damp  that  we  could  not  succeed  in  getting  it  dry  and 
warm  enough  to  be  safe  for  the  little  children,  so  I  invited 


WOODHILL   UNION   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  379 

them  to  come  and  have  Sunday-school  in  my  parlor  until 
warm  weather.  I  live  in  the  house,  just  in  the  rear  of  the 
chapel,  formerly  occupied  by  Henry  B.  Odell.  On  pleasant 
Sundays  we  have  quite  a  number  present.  Our  Superin- 
tendent is  Dr.  J.  W.  Nobles,  who  also  has  charge  of  the 
Bible-class,  Mrs.  Austin  of  the  intermediate  class,  Mrs. 
Johnson  of  the  boys'  infant-class,  and  Mr.  Richards  and 
myself  have  the  girls'  infant-class.  The  entire  infant-class 
numbers  fourteen.  The  total  number  of  pupils  is  thirty. 
Our  school  is  held  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  It 
was  reopened  in  October,  1887.  We  hope  we  will  have  a 
larger  school  next  summer.  Wishing  you  success  in  your 
excellent  work,  I  am, 

"  Yours  very  respectfully, 

"  MRS.  M.  C.  RICHARDS." 

Wallace  Pulver  is  on  the  honorary  list  of  Sunday- 
school  teachers  from  this  school. 

The  Superintendents  of  Woodhill  Sunday-school  in 
their  order  of  service  have  been:  Cornelius  W.  Thomas, 
who  was  the  founder  of  the  school  and  its  first  Superin- 
tendent, 1858  ;  Wallace  Pulver,  1862  ;  Henry  B.  Odell,  1864; 
Wallace  Pulver,  Acting  Superintendent ;  Oliver  Chambers, 
1875;  G.  Livingston  Morse,  1877;  William  Allen  Butler, 
Jr.,  1881  ;  H.  C.  Fuller,  1883;  J.  W.  Nobles,  M.  D.,  1887. 
The  year  in  which  these  gentlemen  began  their  services  is 
given,  not  their  entire  term. 

Later  than  Mrs.  M.  C.  Richards'  note,  the  report  has 
been  received  that  Woodhill  Sunday-school  is  flourishing, 
and  is  at  present  under  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Abram 
Austin,  and  has  an  enrolment  of  sixty  scholars  and  eight 
teachers. 

In  connection  with  the  school  is  a  society  called  "  The 
Epworth  League."  The  hour  of  session  of  the  school  is 
2 :  30  P.  M.,  which  is  followed  by  preaching  services  at 
3  :  30  P.  M. 

The  present  Trustees  of  Woodhill  Chapel  are  Messrs. 
C.  L.  Kirk,  J.  R.  Breese,  James  Austin,  Firman  Lawrence, 
Mr.  Parker,  and  Mr.  Chamberlain. 


380  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

On  September  23,  1870,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  William  Jackson  on  Riverdale  Avenue,  to  con- 
sider the  expediency  of  forming  another  Methodist  society 
in  the  south  part  of  Yonkers.  The  following  persons  were 
present :  William  Jackson,  John  Embree,  John  C.  Camp- 
bell, Searing  Howell,  Orange  Webster,  Reuben  Barnes, 
Sylvanus  Cokalete,  and  C.  F.  Moulton,  who  resolved  to 
secure  a  place  of  worship  and  to  secure  the  services  of  a 
Methodist  clergyman.  They  appointed  a  committee  to 
procure  a  place  of  worship,  and  the  hall  over  the  Yonkers 
Savings-Bank,  on  South  Broadway,  nearly  opposite  Hud- 
son Street,  was  secured  at  a  rental  of  $600  per  annum. 
This  hall  was  furnished  at  an  expense  of  $400. 

Presiding  Elder  Ferris  gave  his  approval  of  the  new 
organization  and  appointed  Rev.  George  W.  Lord  as  their 
pastor.  The  first  prayer-meeting  service  was  held  in  this 
hall  on  Thursday  evening,  October  20,  1870,  and  was 
largely  attended.  The  first  preaching  service  was  held  on 
Sundav,  October  23,  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  Edmund  A. 
Hill  supplied  the  pulpit  in  the  morning,  preaching  from 
the  text,  "Worship  God,"  Rev.  19:10.  Rev.  Loyal  B. 
Andrus  preached  in  the  evening.  The  hall,  which  accom- 
modated 200  persons,  was  well  filled  at  these  services. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  October  30,  1870,  Rev. 
George  W.  Lord  read  from  the  pulpit  the  names  of  sev- 
enty-two members  from  the  First  Methodist  Church  on 
North  Broadway,  Yonkers,  Rev.  Frank  Bottome,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  that  church,  having  readily  granted  them  letters 
of  dismission.  These  seventy-two  members  constituted 
the  first  membership  of  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Yonkers. 

The  congregation  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  hall 
became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  growing  congrega^ 
tion,  and  Getty  Hall,  on  Main  Street,  was  secured.     Much 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  381 

diversity  of  opinion  existed  in  regard  to  a  permanent  site 
until  the  present  central  and  eligible  one  on  Hudson 
Street,  near  Riverdale  Avenue,  was  purchased  in  Septem- 
ber, 1 87 1.  The  lot  is  72  by  120  and  cost  $7,000.  The 
corner-stone  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  laid  on  Thurs- 
day afternoon,  June  13,  1872.  The  presiding  elder  of  the 
district.  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  conducted  the  exercises.  The 
programme  was  as  follows  : 

Exhortation  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Frederick  S.  Barnum  ; 
hymn,  read  by  Rev.  John  G.  Oakley ;  prayer  by  Rev.  L.  W. 
Walworth  ;  responsive  reading  by  the  presiding  elder  and 
the  congregation ;  Scripture  reading  by  Rev.  David  Cole, 
D.  D.;  address  by  Rev.  D'C.  Crawford,  D.  D.;  hymn,  read 
by  Rev.  L.  W.  Mudge ;  address  by  Bishop  Peck ;  laying  of 
the  corner-stone  by  the  presiding  elder,  assisted  by  the 
pastor ;  prayer  by  Bishop  Peck ;  benediction  by  Rev.  R. 
M.  Stratton,  D.  D. 

A  metallic  box  was  placed  in  the  corner-stone,  contain- 
ing the  following  articles :  a  copy  of  the  names  of  the 
pastor,  trustees,  stewards,  class  -  leaders,  Sunday-school 
superintendent,  architect,  builders,  building  committee, 
the  names  of  the  clergymen  present,  copies  of  the  New 
York  "  Christian  Advocate,"  the  "  Methodist,"  the"  Yonkers 
Gazette,"  the  "  Yonkers  Statesman,"  the  "  Yonkers  Herald," 
"Methodist  Almanac"  for  1872,  a  letter  from  Rev.  T.  Ral- 
ston Smith,  D.  D.,  regretting  his  absence,  the  programme 
of  services,  and  an  old  Methodist  hymn-book  presented  by 
Mrs.  Searing  Howell,  formerly  owned  by  one  of  the  first 
members  of  the  First  jNIethodist  Church  of  Yonkers. 

On  Sunday,  April  27,  1873,  the  first  services  were  held 
in  the  lecture-room  of  the  new  church.  Rev.  Dr.  Ridge- 
way  preached  in  the  morning,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  M.  Stratton  in 
the  afternoon,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  in  the  evening.  On 
Sunday  morning,  July  6,  1873,  the  church  was  dedicated. 
The  pulpit  and  altar  were  occupied  by  a  number  of  visit- 
ing clergymen,  and  laymen  from  New  York  and  elsewhere. 
Rev.  F.  S.  Barnum  began  the  solemn  service  w^ith  the  fol- 
lowing exhortation : 

Dearly  Beloved  : — The  Scriptures  teach  us  that  God 
is  well  pleased  with  those  who  build  temples  to  his  name. 


382  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

We  have  heard  how  he  filled  the  temple  of  Solomon  with 
his  glory,  and  how  in  the  second  temple  he  manifested 
himself  still  more  gloriously.  And  the  Gospel  approves 
and  commends  the  centurion  who  built  a  synagogue  for 
the  people.  Let  us  not  doubt  that  he  will  also  favorably 
approve  our  purpose  of  dedicating  this  place  in  solemn 
manner  for  the  performance  of  the  several  offices  of  reli- 
gious worship ;  and  let  us  now  devoutly  join  in  praise  to 
his  name  that  this  godly  undertaking  hath  been  so  far 
completed,  and  in  prayer  for  his  further  blessing  upon  all 
who  have  been  engaged  therein,  and  upon  all  who  shall 
hereafter  worship  his  name  in  this  place. 

A  hymn  of  dedication  written  for  the  occasion  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Bottome.,  beginning  "  Praise  ye  the  Lord,  ye  people, 
praise,"  was  read  by  the  venerable  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  B. 
Wakely ;  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Reid  ;  Scripture  lesson 
read  by  Rev.  Dr.  R.  M.  Stratton ;  hymn  read  by  Rev. 
George  W.  Lord. 

Rev.  Bishop  Simpson  preached  the  sermon  from 
St.  John  20:29 — "Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thomas,  because 
thou  hast  seen  me  thou  hast  believed  ;  blessed  are  they 
that  have  not  seen  and  yet  have  believed." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  Rev.  Dr.  Reid  stated 
that  the  cost  of  the  building,  lots,  and  furniture  was 
$40,000,  and  that  there  was  a  funded  debt  of  $15,000  and  a 
floating  debt  of  $13,000.  Subscriptions  were  then  received 
for  over  $10,000,  and  the  services  were  closed  with  the 
benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wakely. 

At  the  afternoon  service  Rev.  J.  H.  Lent,  of  Ashford, 
read  the  opening  hymn,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers,  offered  prayer.  Rev.  Dr. 
John  M.  Reid  preached  the  sermon  from  Mark  6 :  3 — "And 
they  were  offended  at  him."     It  was  an  able  effort. 

The  evening  service  was  opened  by  the  reading  of  a 
hymn  by  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.  Rev.  Dr.  Cyrus  D.  Foss 
preached  from  John  4 :  38 — "  Other  men  labored,  and  ye 
are  entered  into  their  labors." 

At  the  close  of  this  service  additional  subscriptions 
were  received,  the  total  amount  raised  being  $23,250. 

The  dedicatory  service  then  took  place  conducted  by 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  383 

Bishop  Simpson.  William  Jackson,  Joseph  L.  Proseus, 
Searing  Howell,  Charles  Jayne,  Charles  P.  Bynon,  Abram 
S.  Radcliff,  B.  F.  Hawley,  and  John  Forsyth,  trustees,  took 
places  in  front  of  the  altar.  The  1226.  Psalm  was  read  in 
alternate  verses  by  Bishop  Simpson  and  the  congregation, 
at  the  close  of  which  the  venerable  William  Jackson,  in 
behalf  of  the  trustees,  said :  "  We  present  unto  you  this 
building  to  be  dedicated  as  a  church  for  the  service  and 
worship  of  Almighty  God."  The  Bishop  repeated  the 
declaration  used  in  the  dedicatory  service  according  to 
usages  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  service  concluded  with  prayer,  doxology,  and  the 
benediction.  In  addition  to  the  clergymen  taking  part 
there  were  present  Rev.  William  S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  rector 
of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church,  Yonkers,  Rev.  E.  A.  Hill, 
and  Rev.  J.  H.  Hartwell. 

The  church  building  is  of  brick  with  blue-stone  trim- 
mings. It  has  a  frontage  of  sixty-five  feet  on  Hudson 
Street,  including  the  two  towers,  and  is  ninety  feet  deep. 
The  tower  on  the  east  side  is  surmounted  by  a  spire  150 
feet  in  height. 

The  size  of  the  auditorium  on  the  second  floor  is  56  by 
73  feet,  with  an  end  gallery  16  feet  wide.  The  height  of  the 
ceiling  in  the  auditorium  is  35  feet.  There  are  three  aisles 
and  at  either  side  of  the  pulpit  is  a  door — the  one  on  the 
right  leading  to  the  Sunday-school  room  in  the  basement, 
and  the  other,  on  the  left,  into  a  small  lavatory. 

The  Sunday-school  room  in  the  basement  is  56  by  60 
feet,  with  two  class-rooms  1 8  by  20.  The  ceiling  is  twelve 
feet  high.  The  auditorium  was  finished  by  J.  and  G.  Stew- 
art. The  other  mason  work  was  done  by  John  C.  Camp- 
bell and  Son.  The  carpenter  work  was  by  David  and  Mar- 
vin Oakley.   The  architect  was  Richard  Jones,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  cost  of  the  edifice,  including  the  ground,  was 
$42,000.  The  church  was  erected  when  building  material 
was  at  a  high  rate.  The  white  marble  tablet  between  the 
towers  bears  the  following  inscription :  "  Central  jNIetho- 
dist  Episcopal  Church.  Erected  1872."  The  church  is  a 
substantial,  convenient,  and  comfortable  edifice. 

Rev.  Frederick  S.  Barnum  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Lord. 


384  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Ferguson  was  the  next  pastor.  During  his  pas- 
torate the  current  expenses  were  promptly  met  and  $9,000 
of  the  bonded  debt  of  $15,000  was  paid  off.  Rev.  Ezra 
Tinker  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Ferguson,  who  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Alexander  McLean  in  1878.  During  his  pastor- 
ate $7,000  of  the  mortgage  debt  was  paid,  a  small  strip  of 
land  in  the  rear  of  the  church  lot  was  purchased,  and  the 
floating  debt  was  paid. 

At  the  celebration  of  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the 
church  in  1880,  the  sum  of  $1,000  was  raised  by  subscriptions 
and  in  cash.  At  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  New  York 
Conference,  which  met  in  the  Central  Methodist  Church  in 
1 88 1,  Rev.  P.  R.  Hawxhurst  was  appointed  pastor.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  Lucius  H.  King,  D.  D.,who  resigned  on 
account  of  ill-health  in  1885.  In  April,  1885,  Rev.  Charles 
W.  Millard  became  pastor.  Several  needed  improvements 
were  made  during  his  pastorate.  In  September,  1887,  the 
pulpit  platform  was  extended  and  a  new  organ-loft  was 
made  for  the  members  of  the  volunteer  choir.  The  new 
organ  was  secured  principally  through  the  efforts  of  J. 
Warren  Goodale.     It  cost  $1,500. 

The  walls  were  rekalsomined,  the  floors  were  newly 
carpeted,  and  the  vestibule  was  supplied  with  new  matting. 
The  principal  improvement  was  the  substitution  of  ten 
handsome  stained  glass  windows  for  the  old  ones.  The 
subscriptions  for  these  windows  were  made  through  the  in- 
defatigable efforts  of  Mrs.  Abram  S.  Radcliff,  assisted  by 
Mrs.  C.  P.  Bynon. 

Six  of  these  beautiful  windows  were  donated  by  Messrs. 
Alfred  W.  Serrell,  A.  T.  Serrell,  Marvin  Oakley,  David 
Oakley,  Hamhn  J.  Andrus,  Norton  P.  Otis,  Charles  R.  Otis, 
and  Solomon  Oakley,  and  the  remaining  four  were  pur- 
chased by  the  contributions  of  others  in  the  congregation. 
Noticeable  among  them  is  the  beautiful  memorial  window 
to  the  late  Searing  Howell,  who  was  a  liberal  contributor 
towards  the  church  building  fund,  and  an  active,  useful,  and 
devout  Christian  member  of  the  church.  This  window  is 
of  a  floral  design.  On  the  right  panel  is  inscribed :  "  Bless- 
ed are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord."  On  the  left :  "  I 
have  fought  a  good  fight."     And  on  scrolls :  "  In  memory 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  385 

of  Searing-  Howell."  These  windows  were  from  the  estab- 
lishment of  Otto  C.  Flack,  New  York. 

At  the  expiration  of  Rev.  Mr.  Millard's  pastorate  the 
official  board  passed  the  following  preamble  and  resolution, 
February  23,  1888: 

Whereas,  Rev.  Charles  W.  Millard  has  for  the  past 
three  years  been  the  pastor  of  the  Central  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  this  city,  and,  according  to  the  usages  of 
our  governing  body,  our  relations  as  pastor  and  people  are 
about  to  cease  ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  official  members  of  the  Central 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  assembled  in  our  fourth  quar- 
terly conference,  do  express  our  warm  appreciation  of  the 
valued  services  he  has  rendered  to  us  as  a  church ;  and  we 
sincerely  regret  that  we  must  so  soon  lose  the  companion- 
ship of  so  accomplished  a  gentleman,  so  congenial  a  bro- 
ther, and  so  effective  a  preacher  and  pastor :  and  wherever 
he  may  be  called  for  future  work,  we  wish  him  the  highest 
degree  of  success  and  prosperity  in  his  new  associations. 

A  farewell  reception  was  given  by  the  congregation  to 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Millard  previous  to  their  departure  to  Mor- 
risania,  in  May,  1888. 

Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  Rev.  Dr.  Stro- 
bridge,  and  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  paying  a  high  tribute  to 
the  work  and  influence  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Millard. 

During  the  evening  a  vote  of  thanks  was  read  from 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  to  Mr.  Millard  for  his  kindness  in 
delivering  his  lecture,  "  On  and  Beyond  the  Sea." 

In  November,  1888,  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  assisted  by 
others  connected  with  the  church,  held  a  fair  in  Warburton 
Hall,  which  was  handsomely  decorated.  Booths  represent- 
ing the  twelve  months  of  the  year  were  located  about  the 
hall.  The  result  of  five  days  and  nights  of  labor  was  net 
proceeds  of  $1,200.  The  fair  paper,  the  voting,  and  the 
sales  were  instrumental  in  about  equal  parts  in  producing 
this  grand  result.  The  money  was  applied  towards  paying 
the  debt  on  the  parsonage. 

The  financial  crisis  of  the  year  1873  was  the  occasion 
of  the  loss  of  many  of  the  subscriptions  which  were  made 
at  the  erection  of  the  church,  and  consequently  much  of 

Church  and  Sunday-school  Work.  2  ^ 


386  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

its  indebtedness  remained,  from  which  it  is  gradually  re- 
covering, and  at  this  date  there  is  a  promising  future  for 
this  persevering  and  enterprising  people. 

The  church  has  been  graciously  favored  with  several 
revivals  which  have  resulted  in  large  ingatherings,  not 
only  of  the  members  of  the  congregation,  but  others  from 
without,  who  were  not  attendants  on  any  church  organiza- 
tion. 

The  first  year,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  fifty-eight  proba- 
tioners were  received.  The  second  ingathering  occurred 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ezra  Tinker,  in  1877,  who  was 
assisted  in  the  special  services  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond. 
Another  was  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Alexander  Mc- 
Lean. Others  followed  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  P.  R. 
Hawxhurst  in  the  years  1881-84,  all  of  which  added  to  the 
membership. 

The  pastors  of  the  Central  Methodist  Church  and  their 
terms  of  service  have  been:  Rev.  George  W.  Lord,  1870- 
1872;  Rev.  Frederick  S.  Barnum,  1872- 1874;  Rev.  A.  H. 
Ferguson,  1874-1877;  Rev.  Ezra  Tinker,  1877-1878;  Rev. 
Alexander  McLean,  1 878-1 881;  Rev.  P.  R.  Hawxhurst, 
1881-1884;  Rev.  Lucius  H.  King,  D.  D.,  1884-1885  ;  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Millard,  1 885-1 888  ;  Rev.  W.  McKendree  Dar- 
wood,  D.  D.,  1888-1891. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — Rev.  W.  McKendree  Darwood,  D.  D. — was  born 
near  Cambridge,  England,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Indiana  in  1849.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  the  Northwest  Indiana  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  1868,  and  was  ordained  an  elder  by 
Bishop  E.  R.  Ames  in  187 1.  In  1887  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  Baker  University,  of  Kansas, 
the  oldest  university  in  that  State.  Dr.  Darwood  has  filled 
the  following  appointments.  Northwest  Indiana  Confer- 
ence:  1 868- 1 869,  Frankfort ;  1 870- 1 87 1,  Delphi;  1872-1874, 
Laporte  ;  1875-1877,  Centenary,  Terre  Haute;  1878,  South 
Bend ;  1879,  Asbury,  Terre  Haute.  New  York  Conference  : 
1 880-1 88 1,  St.  Paul's,  Peekskill;  1 882-1 884,  Bedford  Street, 
New  York;  1885-1887,  Washington  Heights;  1888-1891, 
Central  Church,  Yonkers. 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  387 

Rev.  Dr.  Darwood's  style  of  delivery,  without  notes, 
is  one  that  cannot  fail  to  hold  attention  and  make  deep 
impressions. 

The  number  of  communicants  at  present  is  325  ;  148 
have  been  received  during  his  pastorate  since  April,  1888. 
The  attendance  at  the  weekly  prayer  and  praise  meeting 
held  by  this  church  is  three  hundred.  It  is  the  largest 
prayer-meeting  maintained  by  the  churches  of  the  city  at 
this  writing. 

The  valuation  of  church  property  is  $43,000.  The 
value  of  the  church  parsonage  is  $8,000. 

Twelve  thousand  dollars  has  been  paid  on  the  debt  of 
the  church  during  Rev.  Dr.  Darwood's  pastorate  to  this 
date.  May,  1891.  The  amount  of  the  present  indebtedness 
on  the  church  is  $12,000,  on  the  parsonage  $5,500. 

The  first  trustees  of  the  church,  elected  September  14, 
1870,  were  William  Jackson,  Charles  T.  Brush,  Reuben 
Barnes,  Orange  Webster,  John  Embree,  John  C.  Campbell, 
Joseph  L.  Proseus,  Searing  Howell,  and  Sylvanus  Cokalete. 

The  official  board  of  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  is  composed  as  follows :  Trustees — M.  R.  Oakley, 
John  Forsyth,  A.  W.  Serrell,  A.  S.  Radcliff,  J.  W.  Goodale, 
F.  O.  Hartshorn,  Thomas  Caddoo,  W.  A.  Frost,  and  J.  C. 
Campbell,  Jr.  Stewards— A.  T.  Serrell,  J.  C.  Stillwell,  J. 
W.  Bynon,  Robert  Nickerson,  C.  P.  Bynon,  S.  D.  Oakley, 
John  Mathews,  John  P.  Lewis,  J.  D.  Van  O.  Linda,  E.  W. 
Fols,  G.  W.  Christian,  M.  S.  Bradt,  and  A.  E.  Eldredge. 

The  class-leaders  are  John  Forsyth,  Benjamin  Sullard, 
Ambrose  Hill,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Darwood,  and  ]\Irs.  Charles  P. 
Bynon. 

The  officers  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  are :  Mrs.  W. 
McKendree  Darwood,  President ;  Mrs.  A.  S.  Radcliff,  Vice- 
President  ;  Mrs.  B.  J.  Berrian,  Jr.,  Secretary ;  Mrs.  George 
Coddington,  Financial  Secretary ;  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Veitch, 
Treasurer. 

On  Wednesday,  September  10,  1890,  the  Lend-a-Hand 
Society  was  organized  to  prosecute  the  social  money-raising 
work  of  the  church.  Officers  were  elected  as  follows  :  Miss 
Mary  Barnes,  President ;  Miss  Evie  Serrell,  Vice  President ; 
Miss   Julia  Barnard,  Secretary ;  Miss   Fannie  E.  Radcliff, 


388  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Treasurer.  Chairmen  of  Committees — Mrs.  J.  D.  Van  O. 
Linda,  Social  and  Entertainment ;  Miss  Medora  M.  Whea- 
ton,  Printing  and  Advertising  ;  Miss  Susie  B.  Radcliff,  Re- 
freshments.    There  are  about  twenty  charter  members. 

Another  society  connected  with  this  church  is  the  Ep- 
worth  League,  recently  organized. 

J.  Warren  Goodale  served  the  church  as  its  organist 
efficiently  and  acceptably  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years, 
beginning  in  1872.  The  present  organist  is  John  B.  For- 
syth. 

The  volunteer  choir  of  ten  voices  is  under  the  excellent 
leadership  of  Alfred  W.  Serrell. 

The  present  pulpit  Bible  was  presented  by  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society.  On  it  is  inscribed,  "  Central  M.  E.  Church, 
Yonkers."  It  has  the  following  imprint :  "  Carlton  and 
Lanahan,  New  York,  1868." 

The  communion  service  was  presented  to  the  church 
in  1870  by  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Veitch. 

The  handsome  pulpit-scarf  was  presented  by  Miss  Susie 
B.  Radcliff. 

The  church  clock  was  the  gift  of  a  young  ladies'  Bible- 
class  in  the  Sunday-school,  composed  of  Misses  Lillie  Ste- 
phens, Minnie  Stephens,  Gertie  Odell,  and  Edith  Barnes, 
who  also  presented  the  pastor's  pulpit  chair. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  celebrated  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  each  month.     All  pews  are  free. 

The  parsonage  is  on  the  corner  of  Buena  Vista  Avenue 
and  Hudson  Street. 

The  present  sexton  of  the  church  is  Edward  J.  Earl, 
who  has  served  in  that  capacity  since  December,  1884. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  Sunday-school  connected  with  this  church  was  or- 
ganized in  the  same  hall  in  which  the  church  was  organ- 
ized, the  first  session  being  held  on  Sunday  afternoon,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1870.  It  opened  with  forty-five  scholars  and  fifteen 
teachers,  the  latter  of  whom  were :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Searing 
Howell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Bynon,  Miss  Helen  Mas- 
ten,  Miss  S.  Campbell,  Miss  Mary  Scott,  Miss  Kate  Carpen- 
ter, Miss  Ida  Carpenter,  J.  W.  Devlin,   I.  Travis,  Charles 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  389 

Oakley,  John  Forsyth,  J.  Doremus,  and  Miss  Hannah  Coka- 
lete.     Cyrus  F.  Moulton  was  elected  its  first  superintendent. 

A  printed  report  of  the  school  in  May,  1871,  gives  the 
following  statistics :  "  Since  the  formation  of  this  Sunday- 
school  the  promoters  have  met  with  a  success  which  has  ful- 
filled all  their  expectations.  Commencing  about  seven 
months  ago  with  a  few  scholars,  they  have  gone  on  increas- 
ing so  rapidly  that  now  the  roll  is  over  one  hundred  and 
forty  scholars.  The  school  is  held  in  the  Grand  Army  Hall, 
south  of  the  Yonkers  Savings-Bank,  at  two  o'clock  p.  m. 
The  following  are  its  officers  and  teachers :  C.  F.  Moulton, 
Superintendent ;  J.  W.  Devlin,  Assistant  Superintendent ; 
Mrs.  Sarah  Howell,  Lady  Superintendent ;  Charles  P.  Bynon, 
Secretary ;  Searing  Howell,  Treasurer ;  J.  Willet  Bynon, 
Librarian;  Obadiah  Eddy,  Assistant  Librarian.  Teachers — 
Mrs.  Sarah  Howell,  Miss  Martha  Bynon,  Miss  Mary  Morris, 
Miss  Helen  Masten,  Miss  Jennie  Burnett,  Miss  S.  Campbell, 
Miss  K!ate  Carpenter,  Miss  Ida  Carpenter,  Messrs.  Searing 
Howell,  J.  W.  Devlin,  L  Travis,  Charles  Oakley,  J.  B.  Oak- 
ley, John  Forsyth,  J.  Doremus,  and  David  Phillips.  Miss 
Hannah  Cokalete,  infant  class  teacher.  There  are  thirty 
pupils  in  this  class." 

The  school  occupied  the  Grand  Army  Hall  until  its  re- 
moval to  the  basement  of  the  new  church  in  the  summer  of 
1873.  This  room  is  attractively  furnished,  with  reversible 
settees  and  Scripture  mottoes  and  pictures,  a  large  Scripture 
map,  and  a  clock.  To  the  southwest  of  the  main  room  is 
the  room  occupied  by  the  primary  department  and  at  the 
southeast  is  the  room  of  the  largest  adult  Bible-class. 

During  the  years  it  was  without  a  permanent  place  of 
meeting  the  school  continued  to  increase  in  influence  and 
usefulness,  and  many  were  added  to  the  church  from  the 
school  through  the  precious  revival  with  which  the  church 
was  visited  in  1871  and  the  years  which  followed. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1875  was  held  in  the  Sunday- 
school  room  in  the  basement  of  the  church.  The  walls 
were  tastefully  decorated  with  stars  and  wreaths  of  ever- 
green and  the  pillars  were  entwined  with  the  same. 

The  service  began  with  singing  by  eight  young  ladies. 
The  pastor's  address  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Ferguson,  and  recita- 


390  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ttons  by  Misses  C.  Hill  and  B.  Hill,  N.  Bynon,  and  F.  Rad- 
cliff,  and  Masters  E.  Hill,  S.  Carpenter,  and  G.  Morris,  fol- 
lowed. Four  little  girls  from  the  primary  department  re- 
peated in  concert  the  first  twelve  verses  of  the  fifth  chapter 
of  Matthew. 

A  box  of  confectionery  containing  $5  was  presented  to 
the  chorister.  The  pastor  was  presented  with  a  large  box 
marked  "  Family  Groceries."  Books  were  presented  to  the 
children  and  the  closing  address  was  made  by  Master  John 
B.  Forsyth. 

The  following  printed  report  of  the  school  in  the  cen- 
tennial year,  1876,  gives  an  accurate  account  of  its  condition 
at  that  time  :  "  The  Sunday-school  connected  with  the  Cen- 
tral Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  Hudson  Street  is  rapid- 
ly growing  in  numbers.  It  meets  every  Sunday  afternoon 
at  2:30  o'clock,  and  the  children  are  always  prompt  in  their 
attendance  and  all  take  a  lively  interest  in  the  exercises. 
The  following  figures  show  the  statistics  of  the  school  at 
the  close  of  the  year  1876:  Officers,  8;  teachers,  19;  schol- 
ars on  register,  150;  average  attendance,  117;  largest  at- 
tendance, 142 ;  number  in  primary  class,  35  ;  deaths,  i  ; 
volumes  in  library,  340.  The  officers  of  the  school  are :  J. 
Willet  Bynon,  Superintendent;  Ambrose  Hill,  Assistant 
Superintendent ;  Miss  Sarah  Beckham,  lady  Superintend- 
ent; Charles  P.  Bynon,  Secretary;  Obadiah  Eddy,  Treas- 
urer; Charles  Hill,  Librarian;  O.  C.  Eddy  and  Charles 
Peck,  Assistant  Librarians.  The  teachers  are  :  Miss  Sarah 
Beckham,  Miss  Mary  Hill,  Miss  Matilda  Duff,  Miss  Kate 
Carpenter,  Miss  Martha  J.  Bynon,  Miss  Julia  Kipp,  Miss 
Etta  Stephenson,  Miss  J.  V.  Bynon,  Mrs.  Howlett,  Mrs.  Geo. 
Halsey,  Miss  E.  J.  Morris,  Mrs.  Ellen  E.  Masten,  Mrs.  David 
Oakley,  Messrs.  Searing  Howell,  John  Forsyth,  George  Car- 
ter, George  Halsey,  Edward  Slade,  John  Carpenter,  William 
Briggs,  and  J.  Relyea.  Searing  Howell  has  a  large  Bible- 
class  of  young  men,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Howell  is  the  earnest 
teacher  of  a  large  class  of  adults  which  gathers  in  the  gal- 
lery of  the  church." 

In  1884  the  school  had  on  the  record-book  241  scholars 
and  twenty-seven  officers  and  teachers. 

In  May,  1888,  at  the  suggestion  and  through  the  efforts 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  39I 

of  the  pastor,  a  young  people's  society  was  organized.  It 
was  called  the  "  Lyceum  of  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y."  The  object  of  this  lyceum  is 
the  spiritual,  moral,  and  intellectual  improvement,  the  en. 
largement  of  personal  influence,  and  the  enjoyment  of 
Christian  fellowship,  and  to  develop  facilities  for  religious 
culture,  mental  improvement,  and  social  intercourse  of  its 
members.  Devotional,  membership,  entertainment,  and  vis- 
itation committees  were  appointed. 

The  first  entertainment  of  the  lyceum  was  held  Thurs- 
day evening,  January  3,  1889,  before  a  large  audience,  in  the 
lecture-room.  President  John  C.  Stilwell  announced  the 
programme,  in  which  Dr.  R.  A.  Fones,  Mrs.  James  Dykes, 
]\Iiss  Darwood,  Charles  H.  Crow,  and  S.  C.  Van  Tassell  took 
part.  The  reading  of  the  first  number  of  the  "  Ventilator," 
the  society  paper,  by  its  editor,  S.  Joseph  Lawrence,  con- 
cluded the  entertainment.  The  reading  of  the  first  number 
consumed  over  half  an  hour  of  time.  The  contents  were 
all  original.  Among  the  contributed  articles  was  an  inter- 
esting account  by  S.  C.  Van  Tassell  of  his  experiences  be- 
fore Charleston  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1 865 — the  writer 
having  been  in  service  on  the  monitor  "  Mahopac." 

This  paper  is  issued  bi-monthly  and  read  at  the  lyceum 
entertainments.  Its  contents  are  made  up  of  essays,  sketch- 
es, poems,  etc.,  by  any  members  who  desire  to  contribute. 
The  proceeds  of  these  entertainments  are  devoted  to  the 
society's  expenses  and  are  contributed  to  the  church  work. 
The  lyceum  now  numbers  eighty  members.  Its  officers 
are :  John  Matthews,  President ;  John  C.  Stilwell  and  Miss 
Jennie  Serrell,  Vice-Presidents ;  Miss  Fannie  Radcliff,  Sec- 
retary ;  Mrs.  R.  Nickerson,  Treasurer. 

The  circle  of  the  King's  Daughters  connected  with 
this  school  is  called  "The  Central  Circle."  The  officers 
are :  Miss  Ida  Skipper,  President ;  Miss  Nellie  Bynon,  Sec- 
retary. The  members  of  this  circle  contributed  $50  towards 
the  parsonage  fund  in  November,  1888.  They  are  now  con- 
sidering plans  for  future  work. 

At  the  Christmas  festival  of  1888  Alfred  W.  Serrell, 
Superintendent,  presided,  and  after  an  interesting  pro- 
gramme of  music  and  readings,  in  which   Eddie  Bynon, 


392  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

John  B.  Forsyth,  Rev.  Dr.  Darwood,  Miss  Alice  Codding- 
ton,  Emma  Serrell,  Ena  Serrell,  Lillie  Stevens,  Evie  Serrell, 
Ida  Skipper,  Edith  Barnes,  Gertie  Odell,  vSusie  B.  Radcliff, 
Carrie  Van  Tassell,  Jennie  Serrell,  Bessie  Eldredge,  Louise 
Frost,  Harold  Hobson,  Willie  Littebrandt,  and  others  took 
part,  candies  and  fruits  were  distributed  among  the  schol- 
ars and  there  were  reciprocal  presentations  among  teach- 
ers and  their  classes.  Superintendent  Serrell  received  a 
handsome  gold-headed  ebony  cane,  and  Assistant  George 
W.  Christian  an  elegant  silk  umbrella,  from  the  school. 

Children's  Day  is  observed  by  the  school,  the  services 
being  held  in  the  church  usually  and  sometimes  conducted 
by  the  pastor.  On  Sunday  morning,  June  9,  1889,  the  chil- 
dren filled  two-thirds  of  the  room,  and  their  pretty  summer 
dresses  and  happy  faces,  combined  with  the  abundance  of 
beautiful  flowers  on  person  and  on  pulpit,  made  a  very 
pleasing  scene.  Superintendent  A.  W.  Serrell  was  in 
charge,  and  the  children  sang  with  spirit  and  took  part  in 
the  responsive  readings. 

Recitations  were  given  by  Nellie  Veitch,  Louise  Frost, 
Emma  Paulding,  Ella  Miller,  and  Willie  Littebrandt,  and 
Ena  and  Lulu  Serrell  sang  a  duet  with  chorus.  Several 
infants  were  baptized.  Rev.  Dr.  Darwood's  address  was 
short,  appropriate,  and  interesting.  Six  young  ladies 
passed  around  the  contribution  baskets,  and  a  goodly  sum 
was  raised  for  the  work  of  educating  boys  for  the  min- 
istry. 

The  school  enjoyed  another  of  its  delightful  annual 
excursions  on  Wednesday,  July  10,  1889,  going  by  the  iron 
steamer  "Sirius  "  to  Laurelton  Grove,  Cold  Spring  Harbor, 
Long  Island  Sound.  The  music  was  furnished  by  Bright's 
band.  The  Sunday-schools  of  the  Reformed  and  First  and 
Central  Methodist  Churches  united  on  that  excursion. 

The  Christmas  festival  for  1889  was  given  in  the  lec- 
ture-room of  the  church.  Superintendent  Alfred  W,  Ser- 
rell presided  and  directed  the  singing  of  the  school,  of 
which  there  was  considerable,  which  was  well  done.  Miss 
Serrell  at  the  organ  and  Edward  Bynon  at  the  piano  ac- 
companied. 

Presiding  Elder  A.  J.  Palmer  made  the  opening  prayer. 


CENTRAL    METHODIST   CHURCH.  393 

Recitations  were  given  by  Georgie  Gorse,  Jessie  Stilwell, 
Herbert  W.  Stilwell,  Charlie  Stevens,  Clifford  Stevens,  Lot- 
tie Starr,  Blanche  Hepenstal,  and  Jessie  Hepenstal. 

The  second  part  of  the  entertainment  consisted  of  a 
cantata  of  "  Santa  Clans  and  Mother  Goose,"  in  which  the 
following  costumed  characters  were  represented  : 

Santa  Claus -      Peter  Soetemon. 

Mother  Goose        ------    Miss  Dora  VVheaton. 

Jack -  Alfred  Serrell. 

Jill -         Miss  Ena  Serrell. 

Daffy-Down-Dilly Miss  Nellie  Veitch. 

Humpty  Dumpty William  Caddoo. 

Bo-Peep Miss  Louise  Frost. 

Jolly  Miller Harry  Pickens. 

Jack  Horner -        Leslie  Stevens, 

Sky  Sweeper Miss  Laura  Hubbell. 

Polly  Flinders Miss  Lulu  Serrell. 

Boy  Blue  --...--  William  Littebrandt. 

Miss  Muffet Miss  Emma  Serrell. 

Mother  Hubbard     -----      Miss  Alice  Coddington. 

Mistress  Mary Miss  Lillian  Stevens. 

Tommy  Tucker Edward  Bynon. 

King  Cole -    E.  M.  Yerks. 

Little  Child Miss  Bessie  Eldredge. 

Santa  Clans  Soetemon,  at  the  close  of  the  cantata, pre- 
sented the  prizes  and  gifts  to  scholars  and  teachers.  Rev. 
Dr.  Darwood,  the  pastor,  pronounced  the  benediction. 

A  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was 
organized  Wednesday  night,  January  29,  1890,  with  about 
thirty-five  members  and  these  officers :  J.  D.  Van  O.  Linda, 
President;  J.  C.  Stilwell,  Vice-President;  Miss  Longley, 
Corresponding  Secretary  ;  Miss  Fannie  E.  Radcliff,  Record- 
ing Secretary  ;  Miss  Darwood,  Treasurer. 

The  musical  and  literary  exercises  of  the  Christmas 
festival  of  the  Central  Methodist  school  were  held  in  the 
church  on  December  30,  1890.  They  consisted  of  a  cantata 
by  W.  Howard  Doane,  entitled  "  Santa  Claus,"  performed 
by  about  fifty  young  ladies,  young  gentlemen,  and  children, 
upon  a  large  platform  which  had  been  erected  over  the 
altar.  Although  an  admission  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  was 
charged  to  all  non-members  of  the  school,  the  church  was 
nearly  filled. 


394  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

Theodore  Courtright  was  the  musical  director;  Miss 
Lillian  P.  Courtright,  piano  accompanist.  The  best  sing- 
ing in  the  cantata  was  done  by  the  chorus,  which  had 
been  well  drilled  by  the  director ;  the  volume  and  quality 
of  tone  was  excellent.  Prominent  parts  were  taken  as  fol- 
lows, the  solo  singing  being  sweet  and  pleasing : 

Duet — When  the  Shepherds  -         -     Miss  Carrie  Van  Tassell  and  Miss 

Medora  M.  Wheaton. 

Solo — Invocation  to  Joy Miss  Jennie  Serrell. 

Quintette — 'T  is  Merry  Christmas         -      Miss  Louise  Worden,  Miss  Grace 

Eldredge,  Miss  Alice  Coddington,  Alfred  W.  Serrell,  and  Harry  Picken. 

Solo — The  Wonderful  Song     ------    Miss  Ena  Serrell. 

Duet — Gentle  Hope,  Your  Pretty  Secret    -         Miss  Evie  Serrell  and  Miss 
Laura  Hubbell. 

Solo — Sombody  's  Coming Miss  Nellie  Hubbell. 

The  Prayer  Song   -     Carrie  Oakley,  Florence  Coddington,  Olie  Otis,  Ethel 
Jackson,  Grace  Barker,  Clifford  Stevens,  and  Willie  Maloy. 

Solo — The  Lullaby  Song Miss  Louisa  Frost. 

Trio — The  Fairy  Blessing         -        -      Bessie  Eldredge,  Jessie  Stilwell,  and 

May  Bradt. 
Piano  Solo — Reindeer  Galop  -        -        -        -      Miss  LilHan  P.  Courtright. 
Solo — Santa  Claus'  Greeting        -----       Alfred  W.  Serrell. 

Nellie  Veitch,  Lulu  Serrell,  Em.ma  Paulding,  Ella  Mil- 
ler, and  Willie  Fox  had  prominent  parts  also. 

After  the  cantata  the  school  descended  to  the  lecture- 
room,  where  all  the  children  were  made  happy  with  gifts 
of  books,  candies,  oranges,  etc.  There  were  a  number  of 
special  presents. 

The  Primary  Department  meets  in  a  small  room  ad- 
joining the  main  room.  It  is  properly  equipped  and  fur- 
nished with  an  organ,  blackboard,  and  all  that  is  necessary 
and  which  is  convenient  to  impart  instruction  in  this  in- 
teresting class  of  Sunday-school  work.  Its  teachers  have 
been  Miss  Hannah  Cokalete,  Miss  Helen  Masten,  and  Mrs. 
Dinsmore,  who  was  assisted  by  Miss  Mildred  Kear.  It  is 
now  under  the  guidance  of  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Bynon,  who  is 
assisted  by  Miss  Evie  Serrell,  who  acts  as  organist  and 
leader  of  the  singing,  and  Miss  Courtright. 

Mrs.  Bynon  has  had  charge  of  this  department  since 
January,  1883.  She  is  deeply  interested  in  her  work.  That 
her  lessons  are  intelligently  and  conscientiously  prepared 
is  evident  from  the  interest  and  attention  which  are  mani- 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  395 

fested  by  her  class.  Under  her  prayerful  instructions  it 
has  met  with  marked  success.  The  International  Series  of 
Lessons  is  taught  with  the  Methodist  catechism  and  com- 
mandments. The  contributions  of  the  class  are  donated  to 
the  benevolent  fund  of  the  school.  The  "  Picture  Lesson 
Paper"  is  circulated  in  this  department.  The  present 
attendance  is  115. 

A  handsome  certificate,  upon  which  is  the  figure  of 
John  Wesley  holding  a  Bible  on  which  is  inscribed  his 
dying  utterance,  "The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us,"  is 
presented  to  each  pupil  upon  his  becoming  a  member  of 
the  school,  and  a  certificate  of  dismission  is  also  given  to 
each  scholar  upon  leaving  the  school  to  enter  another. 
The  late  Superintendent,  A.  W.  Serrell,  has  in  his  posses- 
sion the  certificate  of  his  admission  to  his  first  Sunday- 
school. 

The  pastors'  wives  have  always  been  identified  with 
the  school,  and  often  the  classes  taught  by  them  have  been 
the  largest  in  the  school.  Mrs.  Alexander  McLean,  a  for- 
mer pastor's  wife,  had  charge  of  a  large  adult  class  during 
her  husband's  pastorate.  She  was  eminently  successful  in 
her  work,  and  is  held  in  loving  remembrance  by  her  for- 
mer pupils,  some  of  whom  became  teachers  in  the  school. 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Millard  also  had  a  large  adult  class,  and 
from  that  class  a  large  number  were  added  to  the  commu- 
nion of  the  church  while  under  her  charge.  The  present 
pastor's  wife,  Mrs.  W.  McKendree  Darwood,  has  a  class  of 
twelve  young  ladies. 

The  largest  adult  Bible-class  is  composed  of  men  and 
women,  some  of  whom  are  heads  of  families,  and  at  pres- 
ent is  taught  by  Alfred  T.  Serrell.  From  these  classes  the 
classes  of  teachers  who  are  temporarily  absent  are  supplied 
with  teachers.  These  classes  are  the  training  classes  of 
the  future  teachers  of  the  school. 

The  teachers  who  have  been  connected  with  the  school 
ever  since  its  organization  and  who  are  still  there  are  John 
Forsyth,  J.  Willet  Bynon,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  P. 
Bynon ;  the  latter,  since  her  connection  with  the  school, 
being  absent  but  one  year  on  account  of  serious  illness. 
These  teachers  and  officers,  for  their  long-continued  servi- 


396  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ces  in  the  school,  are  enrolled  upon  the  honorary  list  of 
Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

During  the  year  1888  and  in  the  early  part  of  1889 
there  was  received  into  the  communion  of  the  church 
quite  a  large  accession  from  the  Sunday-school  as  the  result 
of  the  faithful  and  prayerful  efforts  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Dr. 
Darwood,  and  the  superintendent  and  teachers. 

The  members  of  the  Sunday-school  presented  the 
church  with  a  handsome  Chickering  piano  in  1888  for  use 
in  the  weekly  services  of  the  church  as  well  as  for  the 
Sunday-school. 

The  school  is  self-supporting  and  contributes  from 
$150  to  $200  annually  for  missionary  purposes.  Teachers' 
meetings  are  held  monthly. 

During  Mr.  Serrell's  superintendency  special  attention 
was  given  by  him  to  the  cultivation  of  the  musical  talents 
of  the  children  and  in  the  selection  of  the  best  and  most 
appropriate  hymns  for  Sunday-school  use.  His  administra- 
tive and  business  ability  was  manifested  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  school,  which  under  his  superintendency 
nearly  doubled  in  numbers.  A  noteworthy  item  in  con- 
nection with  his  work  in  the  school  is  that  he  was  never 
late  at  any  of  its  sessions  nor  absent  unless  out  of  the  city. 

Mrs.  William  H.  Veitch  served  the  school,  as  its  lady 
Superintendent,  efficiently  for  nine  years. 

The  Junior  Epworth  League— recently  organized — is 
composed  of  the  younger  members  of  the  Sunday-school. 
Under  the  excellent  leadership  of  the  pastor's  wife,  Mrs. 
McK.  Darwood,  they  are  being  trained  in  methods  of  Chris- 
tian work. 

George  W.  Christian  was  the  Assistant  Superintendent 
of  the  school  for  three  years,  also  the  Secretary  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  for  three  years. 

The  superintendents  in  the  order  of  service,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained,  have  been :  Cyrus  F.  Moulton,  elected 
October  23,  1870,  J.  Willet  Bynon,  Morris  Valentine,  Solo- 
mon D.  Oakley,  Acting  Superintendent,  Sherburne  C.  Van 
Tassell,  Alfred  W.  Serrell,  who  was  elected  in  May,  1884, 
and  served  till  April,  1891,  and  Theodore  Courtright, 
elected  May,  1891. 


CENTRAL   METHODIST   CHURCH.  397 

The  present  officers,  May,  1891,  are:  Theodore  Court- 
right,  Superintendent ;  Alfred  W.  Serrell,  Vice-Superin- 
tendent ;  Mrs.  J.  C.  Wheaton,  Lady  Superintendent ;  S.  C. 
Van  Tassell,  Secretary ;  Harry  Picken,  Assistant  Secretary  ; 
J.  W.  Bynon,  Treasurer ;  Charles  Lindale,  Librarian  ;  Les- 
lie Stevens,  first  Assistant  Librarian  ;  J.  Irving  Van  Tas- 
sell, second  Assistant  Librarian ;  Edward  Bynon,  third  As- 
sistant Librarian  ;  Edward  Bynon,  Organist. 

The  record  book  of  the  school  for  1889-91  includes  the 
following  teachers :  Mrs.  R.  Barnes,  Miss  Barrett,  Miss  S. 
Beckham,  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Bynon,  Mrs.  Dinsmore,  Mrs.  W. 
McK.  Darwood,  Mrs.  F.  Howlett,  Miss  Laura  Hubbell,  Mrs. 
A.  T.  Kear,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Bynon,  Miss  A.  Pickens,  Mrs.  Rhodes, 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Wheaton,  Miss  A.  Webb,  Miss  Ada  Webb,  Mrs. 
John  Woodruff,  Miss  L.  Worden,  Miss  E.  Serrell,  Mrs.  G. 
W.  Christian,  Miss  Cora  Otis,  Miss  N.  Bennett,  Miss  Sadie 
Woodruff,  Miss  Codington,  Miss  Dora  Wheaton,  Miss  M. 
M.  Wheaton,  Mrs.  J.  Slim,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Meeks,  Mrs.  A. 
Tompkins,  Miss  C.  A.  Van  Tassell,  Miss  E.  Barnes,  Miss  A. 
Barnard,  Miss  S.  Radcliff,  Miss  F.  Radchff,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Eldredge,  Charles  P.  Bynon,  J.  W.  Bynon,  A.  E.  Eldredge, 
John  Matthews,  S.  D.  Oakley,  John  Slim,  William  J.  Tomp- 
kins, John  Van  Winkle,  Sherburne  C.  Van  Tassell,  G.  W. 
Christian,  Chas.  Oakley,  Ambus  Hill,  John  Breen,  and  M. 
Diets.  Primary  Department :  teachers,  Mrs.  C.  P.  Bynon, 
Superintendent ;  Assistant,  Miss  Lillian  Courtright. 

The  number  of  officers  and  teachers  is  38  ;  number  of 
pupils,  325  ;  number  of  library  books,  470. 

The  singing  books  used  by  the  school  are  the  "  Ep- 
worth  Hymnal "  and  "  vSongs  of  Joy  and  Gladness." 

The  lesson  helps  are  the  Berean  graded  series  of  ques- 
tion books,  published  by  Hunt  &  Eaton,  New  York,  and 
the  "  Sunday-school  Journal." 


398  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  AFRICAN   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   ZION   CHURCH   AND 
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  first  religious  effort  put  forth  in  Yonkers  in  behalf 
of  the  colored  people  was  in  the  year  1 860-61,  when  William 
Griffin,  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  assisted 
by  several  others  whose  names  cannot  be  recalled,  hired  a 
small  room  in  a  cottage  on  Guion  Street,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Mansion  House.  How  long-  meetings  were  held  there 
cannot  be  ascertained. 

In  the  years  following  a  small  company  of  these  people 
gathered  in  a  room  in  the  skin  factory  building,  near  the 
corner  of  Nepperhan  Avenue  and  Mechanic  (now  New 
Main)  Street.  This  room  has  become  historic  in  connection 
with  church  and  Sunday-school  history  in  Yonkers,  as  be- 
ing the  birthplace  of  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Baptist  Mis- 
sion Sunday-school  and  of  the  Westminster  Church. 

Their  next  place  of  meeting  was  in  Flagg's  Hall,  on 
Mechanic  Street.  At  that  time  the  meetings  were  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Union  Church  Society  (colored)  of  New 
York  city,  which  sent  members  to  conduct  these  meetings. 
How  long  they  were  held  it  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained, 
but  some  time  after  their  discontinuance  the  enterprise  was 
again  re-commenced  by  William  Griffin,  James  Lawson,  and 
Warren  Purdy,  who  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  fire  engine 
house  on  Chicken  Island,  which  was  located  on  what  is 
now  Post  Lane. 

It  was  there  the  enterprise  began  to  grow,  and  the 
meetings  were  well  attended.  The  services  of  members 
from  other  churches  were  secured,  and  prominent  among 
them  was  Dr.  Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  who  rendered  them  valua- 
ble services,  as  he  did  also  in  Townsend  Hall,  No.  50  North 
Broadway,  which  was  their  next  place  of  meeting.  It  was 
in  this  hall  that  Francis  J.  Moultrie  began  his  work  in  con- 
nection with  this  mission  enterprise  and  rendered  efficient 
service. 


AFRICAN   ZION   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.        399 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  shortly  after 
took  up  the  work,  as  stated  by  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge  in 
his  historical  discourse  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church,  from  which  we  quote  :  "  The  work  was  commenced 
by  the  efficient  Bible-reader,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Russell,  who  was 
in  the  employ  of  our  church  from  the  summer  of  1867  to 
the  beginning  of  1870.  Owing  to  the  great  success  of  this 
work,  Mr.  Theo.  Leggett,  now  Rev.  Theo.  Leggett,  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chester,  N.  Y.,  was  engaged 
two  years  during  the  vacations  of  the  seminary  and  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  one  term.  He  preached  regularly  to  this 
people  on  the  Sabbath,  first  in  a  store  on  the  west  side  of 
North  Broadway,  between  Wells  Avenue  and  Dock  Street, 
afterwards  in  the  hall  on  the  east  side  opposite.  After  the 
close  of  his  engagement,  at  the  request  of  the  colored 
people,  the  gallery  in  the  rear  of  the  church  was  accorded 
to  them.  During  all  this  time  also  a  weekly  prayer- 
meeting  was  held  for  them  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Russell, 
and  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Rich,  the  pastor  generally 
being  present.  In  1870,  against  the  advice  of  myself  and 
others,  they  determined  to  organize  a  church.  For  five 
years  they  have  been  struggling,  but  can  hardly  be  called 
established  as  yet.  This  church  is  also  properly  a  child  of 
ours." 

Such  were  the  steps  which  led  to  the  organization  of 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church,  the  first  col- 
ored church  in  Yonkers.  After  leaving  Townsend  Hall, 
the  little  congregation  worshipped  in  Rooney  Hall,  on 
North  Broadway.  This  hall  was  formerly  over  what  is 
now  known  as  Weller  and  Welsh's  large  dry-goods  store. 
After  remaining  there  for  a  time  they  returned  to  Town- 
send  Hall. 

It  was  also  in  Townsend  Hall  that  we  learn,  from  the 
testimony  of  one  who  attended  these  meetings,  that  the  first 
communion  service  which  was  administered  to  a  colored 
congregation  in  Yonkers  was  conducted  by  Rev.  David 
Cole,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Yonkers. 
The  mission  was  then  known  simply  as  the  Colored  Church 
of  Yonkers,  although  no  formal  organization  had  been 
effected. 


400  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  church  was  organized  with  ten  members  in  Town- 
send  Hall  in  May,  1871,  by  Rev.  Jacob  Thomas  (now  Rev. 
Dr.  Thomas)  of  the  New  York  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Zion  Church  of  America.  From  here  they  went  to  a  build- 
ing erected  for  them  on  North  Broadway,  near  Wells  Ave- 
nue, by  Thomas  C.  Cornell.  After  this  was  removed,  they 
occupied  for  a  brief  period  the  basement  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  from  1884  to  1885,  kindly  tendered  to  them 
by  the  trustees  of  that  church,  until  they  found  a  perma- 
nent resting-place  in  their  church  which  was  erected  on 
New  Main  Street  near  Kellinger  Street. 

William  Griffin*  was  chairman  of  the  organization 
meeting. 

*  Born  in  181 1,  passed  out  of  earth  life  to  a  heavenly  on  January  5, 
1888,  William  H.  Griffin,  of  Yonkers,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

Funeral  services  were  held  in  the  chapel  of  the  First  Methodist  Church, 
on  Sunday,  January  8.  They  were  conducted  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  George 
E.  Strobridge,  D.  D.,  who  said : 

We  are  called  to  the  funeral  of  no  ordinary  man,  and  we  are  gathered 
here  as  sincere  mourners.  We  are  not  here  to  eulogize  his  character. 
The  best  thing  we  can  say  of  him  is  that  he  gave  his  heart  in  early  man- 
hood to  his  Saviour.  He  listened  to  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  gave 
his  heart  to  Christ  and  his  hand  to  His  church.  He  became  a  member  of 
this  church  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Bangs,  in  the  year  1837, 
and  he  has  outlived  almost  all  the  members  of  this  church  at  that  time. 

He  was  a  good  man.  That  is  a  great  thing  to  say  of  any  man.  We 
may  say  of  a  man  that  he  is  a  rich,  a  learned,  an  honorable  man ;  but  to 
say  of  a  man  that  he  is  a  good  man  means  much.  He  was  remarkable  for 
his  cleanness  of  hand  and  heart.  He  was  never  known  to  cheat  any  one 
out  of  a  single  dollar,  nor  injure  by  a  single  word  the  reputation  of 
any  one. 

A  Christian  friend,  while  visiting  him  during  his  last  illness,  asked 
him  in  regard  to  his  faith  in  the  Saviour,  when  he  replied,  "  I  trust  in  the 
blood  of  Christ.  I  can  do  no  more.  He  saves,  and  he  alone.  Jesus' 
blood  cleanses  from  all  sin."  He  was  a  generous  man,  and  gave  to  this 
church  liberally.  He  was  not  a  rich  man.  All  he  secured  was  a  little  two- 
story  frame  house  ;  but  he  was  a  hard-working  man,  as  you  well  know,  and 
every  dollar  he  dug  out  of  the  earth  by  hard  labor.  He  never  declined 
an  appeal  for  money.  A  sister  in  this  church  once  asked  him  for  a  con- 
tribution towards  a  benevolent  object.  He  put  a  sum  into  her  hand  which 
surprised  her,  and  she  said,  "  Have  n  't  you  made  a  mistake  ?"  He  replied, 
"  No,  I  want  you  to  have  all  of  it." 

He  gave  steadily  and  conscientiously.  When  I  came  to  Yonkers  he 
came  to  see  me,  as  I  thought,  to  call  upon  me  as  his  pastor,  as  I  had  so 
recently  come.  I  well  remember  how  he  came  tremblingly  up  the  steps, 
leaning  upon  his  cane,  and  put  his  contribution  for  the  new  church  into 


AFRICAN   ZION   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.       4OI 

James  Lawson,  Madison  Milford,  Francis  Moultrie,  Isaac 
Peeke,  Albert  Skinner,  and  Harrison  Ward  composed  the 
first  board  of  trustees  of  the  church.  Of  the  original  ten 
members,  but  one — James  Lawson — remains  in  the  com- 
munion of  the  church  at  this  time. 

The  corner-stone  of  their  church  building  was  laid  on 
Wednesday  afternoon,  October  15,  1884.  Rev.  R.  H.  G. 
Dyson,  of  New  York,  announced  the  opening  hymn,  and 
Rev.  G.  E.  Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  offered  prayer,  which  was 
following  by  Scriptural  readings  by  Rev.  J.  Thomas,  of  New 
York.  Rev.  John  Reid  delivered  the  address  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison.  The  corner-stone  was  laid 
by  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Yon- 
kers.  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  who  by  their  request  acted  as 
treasurer  of  the  building  fund  of  this  church,  was  also  in- 
vited to  participate  in  these  exercises,  but  was  unable  to  be 
present.  On  the  corner-stone  is  simply  inscribed  "  1884." 
Within  the  stone  was  placed  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures  and 
names  of  the  former  pastors  and  officers  of  the  church. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  were  held  on  Sunday  after- 
noon, April  12,  1885.  Right  Rev.  S.  S.  Jones,  Bishop  of 
the  first  district,  and  Rev.  H.  W.  Decker,  Presiding  Elder 
of  the  district,  conducted  the  exercises.  The  music  was 
furnished  by  the  choir  of  Little  Zion  Church,  of  New  York, 
J.  H.  Davis,  organist ;  Mrs.  A.  Smith,  first  soprano ;  Miss 
E.  Grier,  second  soprano ;  Miss  Jenefer,  alto  ;  Mrs.  Decker, 
alto ;  Mr.  Morris,  basso. 

my  hands.  He  loved  this  church,  and  it  is  proud  to  have  the  name  of 
William  Griffin  inscribed  on  its  record  book,  as  it  was  written  years  ago 
in  the  "  Lamb's  Book  of  Life  "  when  he  gave  his  heart  to  Jesus. 

A  few  days  before  his  decease  he  said  to  a  member  of  his  family,  and 
one  whom  he  loved  as  a  son  and  who  loved  him  as  a  father,  "There are 
two  things  I  would  like  to  do.  I  would  like  to  go  out  to  the  cemetery 
where  I  used  to  work,  and  look  around  and  see  if  everything  is  right. 
And  I  would  like  to  go  down  and  see  the  new  church."  But  God  did  not 
gratify  his  wishes. 

You  know  what  his  occupation  was,  and  how  often  he  could  say  with 
the  old  sexton,  "I  gather  them  in,  I  gather  them  in."  And  he  did  his 
work  very  tenderly,  as  many  know. 

William  Griffin  was  a  simple,  modest,  earnest  working  Christian. 
"Servant  of  God,  well  done."  His  character  can  be  epitomized  in  these 
words  :  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous." 

Sunday-school  Work.  26 


402  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  church  was  filled  to  overflowing,  many  being  un- 
able to  obtain  seats  long  before  the  exercises  began.  The 
dedicatory  sermon  was  by  Rev.  John  Reid,  the  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Yonkers,  from  the  text, 
"  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you?"  i  Cor.  3:16,  which  was 
followed  by  an  address  by  William  Allen  Butler.  A  finan- 
cial statement  of  the  church  was  read  by  Walter  W.  Law, 
after  which  the  Bishop  proceeded  with  the  dedicatory  ser- 
vice according  to  the  ritual  of  the  church.  The  services 
closed  with  singing,  and  the  benediction  by  Rev.  David 
Cole,  D.  D.,  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

At  the  dedication  of  the  church  there  was  a  debt  of 
$1,500  upon  it.  The  building  is  28|  by  54  feet.  It  is  a  neat 
wooden  structure  with  colored  glass  windows.  The  audi- 
torium will  seat  five  hundred  persons.  A  small  gallery  is 
at  the  west  end.  It  has  two  aisles  extending  the  length 
of  the  auditorium.  The  cost  of  the  church  building  was 
$6,500.  James  and  George  Stewart  were  the  builders.  The 
building  committee  was  composed  of  Wm.  Allen  Butler, 
Ethan  Flagg,  and  Walter  W.  Law,  all  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers. 

The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been  :  Rev.  Isaac  Jen- 
kins ;  Rev.  Adam  Jackson  ;  Rev.  George  E.Jackson,  1875 
until  1877;  Rev.  J.  Davis,  six  weeks;  Rev.  J.  C.  Dodge, 
one  year ;  Rev.  E.  J.  Miller,  1879  to  1881  ;  Rev.  William  Dor- 
sey,  seventeen  months ;  Rev.  J.  A.  Evans ;  Rev.  George  E. 
Jackson,  1 883-1 885  ;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Teneyck,  1886  to  1890. 

The  late  pastor  of  the  church.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Ten- 
eyck, eldest  son  of  Theodore  and  Susan  Teneyck,  was  born 
in  Athens,  Greene  County,  N.  Y.  He  received  his  early 
education  at  the  public  schools. 

After  varied  experiences  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States  and  also  in  the  British  employ,  he  was  converted  in 
a  church  in  Brooklyn,  and  served  as  class-leader  in  that 
church  for  three  years. 

He  began  the  study  of  theology  under  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Stubbs.  In  1883  Mr.  Teneyck  joined  the  itineracy  and 
was  ordained  elder  in  1885.  He  came  from  his  former 
charge   in    Fishkill   to   his   late  charge    in   Yonkers,  May 


AFRICAN   ZION   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.        403 

17,  1886.  On  entering  upon  this  charge  he  found  the 
church  in  debt  to  the  amount  of  $900.  Through  the  vigor- 
ous efforts  of  his  congregation  he  succeeded  in  paying  it 
off.  The  church  is,  at  this  writing,  free  from  debt.  Rev. 
Mr.  Teneyck's  pastorate  was  very  successful. 

Improvements  which  have  added  to  the  value  of  the 
church  have  been  made  which  have  cost  $273.  The  mem- 
bership has  gradually  increased  and  the  Sunday-school  has 
been  built  up.  There  has  been  a  good  attendance  at  the 
Sunday  and  weekly  services. 

'The  church  contributed  for  the  cause  of  benevolence 
in  1888,  as  reported  in  the  minutes  of  the  sixty-seventh 
session  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  Conference,  $52  61. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  fifty-four, 
twenty-five  of  whom  were  received  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Teneyck.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  T.  T. 
Thomas,  settled  May,  1891. 

The  present  valuation  of  the  church  property  is  $9,000. 
The  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  these  gentlemen :  F.  J. 
Moultrie,  President ;  William  Lee,  Secretary ;  A.  Whedon, 
Treasurer ;  Jacob  Peel,  A.  Skinner,  J.  Lisby,  Jere.  Webb. 

The  class-leaders  are  Thomas  Brooks  and  Francis  J. 
Moultrie. 

The  stewardesses  are  Mrs.  Sarah  Jackson,  Mrs.  G. 
Brown,  Miss  Annie  Johnson,  Miss  Jennie  Maxwell,  and 
Misses  Cornelia  and  Gertrude  Stewart. 

The  communion  service  was  presented  by  a  member 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  pulpit  Bible  was  presented  by  the  American  Tract 
Society,  October  13,  1883.  Inscription  upon  it,  "A.  M.  E. 
Zion  Church,  Yonkers,  New  York." 

The  organist  is  William  Henry  Oliver,  who  has  effi- 
ciently served  in  that  position  for  seven  years,  three  years 
of  which  were  free  of  charge. 

The  Sunday  services  are  at  10:45  A.  M.  and  7  :  30  p.  m. 
Sunday-school  at  3  :  30  P.  m.  General  prayer-meeting  Wed- 
nesday evening  at  8  o'clock. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  was  organized   July    12,   1874,  in 


404  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK, 

Townsend  Hall,  No.  50  North  Broadway,  by  Gabriel  P. 
Reevs,  M.  D.,  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  Church,  with 
about  ten  scholars.  Dr.  Reevs  was  assisted  by  his  sons 
Gabriel  and  Bethune  M.,  and  his  daughter  Mary  subse- 
quently served  as  organist  for  a  brief  period. 

The  following  printed  notice  of  this  school  gives  ac- 
count of  their  first  Christmas  festival :  "  The  praiseworthy 
work  in  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  Sunday-school  is  carried 
on  most  efficiently  yet  very  quietly  by  its  superintendent, 
Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  M.  D.  A  very  pleasant  Christmas  festi- 
val was  held  on  December  25,  1875.  Addresses  were  made 
by  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and 
Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge,  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  children,  who  numbered  thirty-nine,  were 
made  happy  by  an  abundant  supply  of  grapes,  nuts,  oranges, 
and  candy." 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  the  school  in 
February  of  the  centennial  year,  1 876 :  "  This  Sunday-school, 
still  in  its  infancy,  is  well  attended  every  Sunday  in  the 
hall  over  Rooney's  store,  on  North  Broadway.  The  follow- 
ing are  its  statistics  for  the  past  year :  Officers,  2  ;  teachers, 
4  ;  scholars  on  register,  40;  average  attendance,  25;  deaths, 
2;  volumes  in  library,  10:  receipts,  $15;  expenditures, 
$40.  All  moneys  collected  have  been  expended  for  Sun- 
day-schools in  Liberia,  Africa.  The  officers  of  the  school : 
Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  M.  D.,  Superintendent  and  Treasurer ; 
Gabriel  Reevs,  Librarian.  These,  with  Miss  A.  M.  See  and 
Robert  Reevs,  constitute  the  corps  of  teachers." 

In  1878  Dr.  Reevs  resigned  the  superintendency  of  the 
school,  thinking  that  its  interest  would  be  best  served  by 
having  a  superintendent  from  among  their  own  people. 
The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  the  pastor,  Rev.  George 
Jackson,  took  charge,  and  appointed  Wm.  F.  Marshall  as 
his  assistant.  Miss  Young  acted  as  secretary.  The  number 
of  teachers  was  six,  and  number  of  scholars  sixty.  The 
infant-class  numbered  eighteen.  The  names  of  teachers  at 
that  time  cannot  be  ascertained,  as  the  school  record  was  lost. 

The  next  record  of  this  school  is  in  November,  1887, 
the  superintendent  being  Wm.  H.  Lee.  At  that  date  the 
school  occupied  their  present  room  in  the  basement  of  the 


AFRICAN   ZION    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.       405 

church  on  New  Main  Street.  The  teachers  were  Mrs. 
Thornton,  Mrs.  Adam,  Mrs.  Wilford,  Miss  Oliver,  Miss  A. 
Wood,  Miss  Hicks,  and  Messrs.  Whedon,  Jones,  Thornton, 
and.  Lisby.     Number  of  scholars  on  record-book,  forty-five. 

The  school  had  a  very  pleasant  picnic  in  1886  at  Fort 
Lee  on  the  Hudson  River.  In  1887  an  enjoyable  day  was 
spent  at  Coney  Island.  They  realized  by  this  excursion  above 
expenses  $5,  which  was  appropriated  to  the  school  expenses. 

The  annual  picnic  was  held  in  1888  in  September,  in 
a  grove  on  Central  Avenue,  Yonkers,  to  which  place  they 
were  taken  by  stages.  The  day  was  pleasantly  spent  in 
games  and  social  intercourse  with  friends  of  the  school  and 
church.     This  also  was  a  financial  success. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1888  was  held  in  the  church 
on  Friday  evening.  The  programme  of  exercises  was  as  fol- 
lows :  Singing — "Christmas  Bells."  Prayer — Rev.  Charles 
Bass.  Scripture  reading  by  pastor,  Rev.  Chas.  H.  Teneyck. 
Singing,  "  Strike,  Strike  for  Victory."  The  following  mem- 
bers of  the  school  took  part  in  these  exercises:  Mary  De 
Forest,  Mary  Holland,  Violet  Oliver,  Anna  Wood,  Louisa 
Wood,  Francis  Jennett,  Henry  Hart,  Samuel  Houston,  and 
Wm.  Brooks.  The  closing  hymn,  "  Joy  to  the  World,"  was 
sung,  after  which  the  Christmas  gifts  were  distributed  by 
the  superintendent,  John  Lisby. 

Children's  Day  is  annually  observed  by  the  school  with 
appropriate  exercises.  On  Sunday  afternoon,  July  21,  1889, 
these  consisted  of  singing  by  the  children  and  an  excellent 
address  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Teneyck,  who  spoke 
of  the  work  and  needs  of  Livingstone  College,  N.  C,  which 
institution  of  learning  is  under  the  direction  and  control 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  in  America,  and  of  the  advan- 
tages which  this  institution  afforded  to  indigent  students 
who  desired  to  procure  an  education.  The  collection  tak- 
en, which  was  $8,  was  appropriated  to  this  object. 

The  pastor  was  followed  by  Francis  J.  Moultrie,  who 
gave  personal  reminiscences  of  his  early  Sunday-school 
days,  and  urged  upon  the  children  to  earnestly  and  faith- 
fully improve  their  advantages,  which  were  far  superior  to 
what  he  enjoyed. 

The  church  was  tastefully  decorated  with  flowers,  and 


4o6  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  exercises  on  that  occasion  will  long  be  remembered 
with  pleasure  by  all  who  were  present. 

The  scholars  of  this  Sunday-school  enjoyed  their  Christ- 
mas festival  on  Thursday  evening,  January  2,  1890,  at  the 
church.  The  attendance  of  friends  was  large.  W.  H.  Lee, 
the  Superintendent,  presided ;  Miss  Carrie  Oliver  led  the 
singing,  and  Henry  Oliver  played  the  organ.  The  opening 
prayer  was  offered  by  Thomas  Brooks. 

Besides  the  singing  of  carols  by  the  school,  a  soprano 
solo  was  sung  by  Mrs.  Madison  ;  and  recitations  were  given 
as  follows :  "  The  Brook  Song,"  by  Frances  Washington  ; 
"  Take  These  Flowers,"  by  Ettie  Cornell ;  "  Break,  Break," 
by  Willie  Brooks.  Four  little  girls,  Frances  Washington, 
Ettie  Cornell,  Sarah  Oliver,  and  Mary  Jones,  spoke  a  dia- 
logue. 

After  the  distribution  of  the  gifts,  which  consisted  of 
candies,  cakes,  and  oranges,  and  the  presentation  of  the 
books,  etc.,  given  as  prizes  for  good  attendance  and  good 
work,  the  scholars  were  treated  to  ice-cream  and  cake. 

The  school  has  a  local  missionary  society  which  was 
organized  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Teneyck,  in  July, 
1888.  The  membership  fee  is  five  cents  per  month.  If  a 
member  is  ill  he  receives  $1  per  month  as  long  as  his  ill- 
ness lasts.  In  case  he  dies  his  parents  receive  $10  towards 
the  funeral  expenses.  The  present  officers  of  the  society 
are  :  William  Brooks,  President ;  Etta  Cornell,  Treasurer ; 
Sarah  Oliver,  Secretary. 

The  school  contributed,  in  1887,  $10  50  towards  home 
missions,  and  in  1888  $14  towards  the  same  object. 

The  school  is  self-supporting.  It  has  a  handsome  silk 
banner  upon  which  are  embroidered  a  cross  and  a  crown 
and  the  words  "Zion  A.  M.  E.  Sunday-school."  The  class 
banner  is  also  silk  and  is  held  by  the  class  which  contrib- 
uted the  most  money  during  the  preceding  month.  This 
banner  was  presented  by  Mrs.  William  Hicks. 

In  1887  five  from  the  school  united  with  the  church, 
and  in  1888  three. 

Teachers'  meetings  are  held  monthly. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Madison  is  among  the  honorary  list  of 
Sunday-school  teachers  in  connection  with  this  school. 


AFRICAN   ZION    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.       407 

The  entertainments  which  have  been  held  from  time 
to  time  for  the  benefit  of  this  church  and  Sunday-school 
have  been  especially  delightful  in  cultivating  a  kindly 
social  feeling  among  the  congregation  and  its  friends.  They 
have  also  always  proven  financial  successes,  considerable 
money  being  raised  over  and  above  their  expenses.  They 
have  reflected  much  credit  upon  the  executive  ability  of 
the  committees  who  have  had  them  in  charge,  and  also  in- 
dicated the  liberality  of  those  who  have  attended  them. 

The  teacher  of  the  primary  class  is  Miss  Maggie  Hicks, 
who  is  assisted  by  Miss  Florence  Oliver.  It  numbers  ten 
pupils.  "The  Children's  Picture  Paper"  is  distributed. 
The  total  number  of  pupils  is  seventy,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  forty-eight. 

The  pastor  delivered  two  sermons  to  children  during 
1889,  one  being  on  the  subject  of  temperance. 

There  are  three  hundred  volumes  in  the  Sunday-school 
library.  The  singing  book  used  by  the  school  is  "  Pure 
Gold."  The  lesson  helps  are  the  "  Sunday-school  Worker," 
by  Bishop  J.  J.  Moore,  and  the  "  Sunday-school  Quarterly," 
the  publications  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church  Society. 

The  International  Lesson  Series  is  taught  in  the  school. 

The  school  is  governed  by  a  board  of  directors,  who 
assist  the  superintendent  and  attend  to  the  business  mat- 
ters of  the  school.  This  board  consists  of  George  B.  Jones, 
Isaac  B.  Lewis,  and  Miss  Young. 

The  superintendents  in  their  order  of  service,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained,  have  been  Gabriel  P.  Reevs,  M.  D., 
Rev.  George  Jackson,  Willam  F.  Marshall,  William  Lee, 
John  Lisby,  and  the  present  superintendent,  William  Lee, 
elected  August,  1889. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are,  William  Lee, 
Superintendent,  George  Jones,  Assistant  Superintendent; 
Henry  Oliver,  Secretary ;  and  Miss  M.  Cornell,  Treasurer. 
The  teachers  are:  Rev.  T.  T.  Thomas,  of  adult  Bible- 
class;  Mrs.  Rebbeca  Madison,  Miss  Maggie  Young,  Miss 
Maggie  Hicks,  Miss  Florence  Oliver,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Ganie, 
Mrs.  A.  Cornell,  Alex.  Whedon,  and  George  Jones.  Teach- 
ers of  primary  class :  Miss  Maggie  Hicks  and  Miss  Flor- 
ence Oliver.     The  leader  of  the  singing  is  Miss  Oliver. 


408  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

ST.   JOHN'S   GERMAN   EVANGELICAL    LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

The  first  religious  effort  put  forth  among  the  German 
population  of  Yonkers  was  by  the  Westminster  Presby- 
terian Church  of  this  city,  which  is  noted  in  the  historical 
sermon  of  that  church  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Lewis  Ward 
Mudge,  in  July,  1876,  as  follows: 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  i860,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer,  the  collection  of  the  church  for  ministe- 
rial education  was  voted  to  Mr.  (now  Professor)  H.  D. 
Wrage,  then  a  student  in  the  senior  class  of  New  York  Sem- 
inary, and  he  was  invited  to  come  to  Yonkers  and  preach 
to  the  Germans  on  the  Sabbath,  at  4  P.  M.  Between  fifty 
and  sixty  were  present.  Mr.  Wrage  was  requested  to 
continue  his  services  at  a  stated  stipend,  and  he  did  so, 
as  a  rule,  on  alternate  Sabbaths,  until  the  early  fall,  when, 
being  free  from  other  engagements,  he  made  a  thorough 
canvass  of  the  village,  finding  over  one  hundred  German 
families,  averaging  three  adults,  most  of  whom  did  not  un- 
derstand English  sufficiently  to  follow  a  sermon.  Mr. 
Wrage  was  then  engaged  from  the  ist  of  November,  i860, 
at  a  salary  of  $800  per  annum.  The  use  of  the  hall  corner 
Wells  avenue  and  Broadway  was  given  b}^  the  church  to 
the  Germans.  Archibald  Baxter  agreed  to  give  $250  if  the 
church  would  give  the  same,  the  remainder  to  be  secured, 
if  possible,  from  the  Germans.  Mr.  W.  F.  Lee  was  ap- 
pointed treasurer,  Messrs.  Baxter  and  Nairn  advisory  com- 
mittee, and  John  Davidson  solicitor  of  subscriptions.  This 
enterprise  resulted  in  the  formation  of  an  independent 
German  church,  which,  after  several  years'  experiment, 
failed.  Shortly  after  my  coming  to  Yonkers  the  aid  of  our 
church  was  again  sought,  and  a  number  of  conferences 
were  held  between  the  Germans  and  myself  in  which  they 
were  encouraged  to  keep  their  organization.  On  our  part 
cottage  prayer-meetings  were  established  at  Mrs.  Lorenz's 
and  Mrs.  Arold's.     Finally  it  was  decided,  after  advice  with 


ST.   JOHN'S   GERMAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  409 

others,  that  a  change  of  organization  alone  would  make  the 
church  a  success.  At  my  suggestion  application  was  made 
to  organize  them  into  a  Presbyterian  church,  to  be  cared 
for  until  they  should  succeed  in  establishing  themselves. 
Accordingly,  September  2,  1868,  this  was  done  in  this  build- 
ing. Rev.  B.  Kruesi,  of  New  York,  preached  the  sermon  in 
German.  A  sketch  of  the  past  history  of  work  among  the 
Germans  was  read  by  your  pastor,  who  afterwards  in  the 
name  of  the  Presbytery  effected  the  organisation,  Rev.  J. 
C.  Wirtz  acting  as  interpreter.  The  address  of  welcome 
was  given  by  Rev.  Wilson  Phraner,  of  Sing  Sing.  This 
church  started  with  thirty-nine  members,  many  of  whom 
were  gathered  and  led  to  Christ  through  the  instrumentality 
of  this  church.  After  one  year's  existence  in  this  form  the 
opportunity  long  desired  came.  The  orthodox  Lutheran 
body  agreed  to  take  the  church  and  see  to  its  support." 

The  St.  John's  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
was  founded  September  16,  1869,  by  the  following  persons: 
Maximilian  Joseph  Reinfelder,  M.  D.,  William  E.  Beutler, 
Peter  Hagen,  C.  Weltzien,  C.  Deator,  and  Charles  Kruger. 
Of  these  original  founders  but  one,  William  E.  Beutler,  re- 
mains in  the  communion  of  the  church. 

The  first  service  of  the  church  was  held  on  September 
18,  1869,  in  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church  on  North 
Broadway.  The  clergyman  who  officiated  was  the  Rev. 
J.  H.  Sommer,  who  also  preached  in  the  German  church  at 
Hastings  on  Sunday  afternoons.  Miss  Hopke,  from  Hast- 
ings, presided  at  the  organ  and  conducted  the  singing. 

The  second  place  of  meeting  of  this  little  congregation 
was  in  a  hall  now  occupied  by  the  Westchester  Telephone 
Company,  corner  of  South  Broadway  and  Main  Street. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Sommer  then  became  their  stated  pastor,  begin- 
ning his  pastorate  near  the  end  of  1870.  The  first  baptism 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Sommer  was  that  of  a  child,  Maria  Johanna 
Gugle,  on  September  11,  1870.  The  first  confirmation  by 
him  also  occurred  in  this  hall  in  the  same  year,  when  these 
persons  were  confirmed  :  Miss  Louise  Muller,  Miss  Sophia 
Kruger,  Herman  Muller,  Julius  Weltzien,  and  Augustus 
Weltzien. 

The  next  place  which  was  occupied  by  this  church  was 


4IO  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

in  a  hall  over  the  building  on  South  Broadway,  formerly 
occupied  by  the  Yonkers  postoffice,  opposite  Hudson  Street, 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  station  of  the  New  York 
and  Northern  Railway.  The  congregation  occupied  this 
hall  for  six  months ;  then  they  removed  to  the  chapel  of  St. 
John's  Church,  which  was  kindly  tendered  to  them  by  that 
church,  where  they  worshipped  for  over  a  year,  until  their 
new  church  edifice  on  Hudson  Street,  near  Hawthorne 
Avenue,  was  ready  for  occupancy. 

On  Sunday,  August  30,  1874,  a  large  assembly  of  per- 
sons of  all  denominations  witnessed  the  ceremony  of  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone.  A  temporary  platform  was 
erected  and  was  occupied  by  the  choir  of  the  church,  Rev. 
Dr.  Berkemier,  Rev.  Mr.  Richards,  Rev.  Leo  Koenig,  pas- 
tor of  the  church,  and  Dr.  Maximilian  J.  Reinfelder,  elder 
of  the  church.  F.  Muller,  Jr.,  presided  at  the  small  church 
organ  at  the  back  of  the  platform.  The  Sunday-school 
teachers  and  scholars  formed  a  semi-circle  in  front  of  the 
platform. 

The  ceremony  was  opened  with  prayer  by  the  pastor. 
Rev.  Leo  Koenig.  Dr.  Berkemier  delivered  an  address  in 
German  maintaining  the  dignity  and  power  of  the  church 
against  the  world  were  it  full  of  devils,  because  God  was  its 
founder  and  Jesus  Christ  its  corner-stone. 

Rev.  Mr.  Koenig  then  introduced  Rev.  Mr.  Richards, 
who  delivered  an  earnest  discourse  in  English  from  these 
words :  "  For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is 
laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  i  Cor.  3:11.  At  the  conclusioii 
of  the  discourse  Rev.  Mr.  Richards  made  an  earnest  appeal 
to  the  citizens  of  Yonkers  to  support- and  uphold  the  new 
church  undertaking  which  was  started  in  their  midst,  for  it 
rested  on  the  truth  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  act  of  laying  the  corner-stone  was  performed  by 
Rev.  Leo  Koenig,  the  pastor  of  the  church.  In  the  box 
which  was  placed  in  the  cavity  of  the  stone  were  the  fol- 
lowing articles :  Copies  of  the  "  Yonkers  Gazette,"  the 
"Yonkers  Statesman,"  and  the  "Westchester  Zeitung,"  a 
catechism  by  Martin  Luther,  a  German  Lutheran  singing- 
book,  a  German  Bible,  "  Lutheran  Oherold,"  "  Lutheran 
Misser,"  "  Lutheran   Zeitochriff,"  charter,  constitution,  and 


ST.   JOHN'S   GERMAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  4II 

by-laws  of  Lutheran  Emigrant  House  of  New  York,  the 
Minutes  of  the  last  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  Missionary  Soci- 
ety of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  a  copy  of  the  "  Jugen 
Frerend." 

The  corner-stone,  which  is  of  granite,  bears  this  in- 
scription in  gilt  letters :  "St.  Johannis  Deutsche  Evang. 
Lutherische  Kirche,  Anno  Domini  1874." 

On  Sunday,  December  13,  1874,  the  church  was  dedica- 
ted. Notwithstanding  there  was  a  severe  storm  prevailing 
at  the  time,  the  church  was  completely  filled  and  many  were 
obliged  to  go  away  unable  to  obtain  entrance. 

The  dedicatory  service  was  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  was  conducted  in  the  German  language.  Rev. 
Justus  Ruperti,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Church  of  St.  Matthew,  New  York,  preached  the  sermon. 
A  service  in  the  English  language  was  held  in  the  after- 
noon at  three  o'clock.  Rev.  G.  F.  Kortel,  D.  D.,  President 
of  the  New  York  Ministerium,  preached  the  sermon. 

The  singing  of  the  children  of  the  Sunday-school  on 
this  occasion  was  generally  admired.  The  council  of  the 
church  at  the  dedication  was  composed  of  Rev.  Leo  Koenig, 
pastor;  Dr.  Maximilian  J.  Reinfelder,*  elder;  F.  Muller, 
Sr.,  F.  Muller,  Jr.,  Wm.  Beutler,  J.  Dietrich,  J.  Kolpin,  D. 
Jurgens,  H.  Meinhardt,  J.  Heinrich,  and  E.  R.  Wicht,  trus- 
tees. 

The  church  is  a  small  brick  structure  with  a  belfry.  It 
stands  on  Hudson  Street,  near  the  corner  of  Hawthorne 
Avenue.     It  has  a  single  auditorium  with  two  aisles.     The 

*  Dr.  Maximilian  Joseph  Reinfelder,  one  of  the  founders  of  this  church, 
passed  away  very  suddenly  at  his  residence  in  Yonkers,  on  Friday  morn- 
ing, November  30,  1888.  He  was  one  of  the  best  known  and  oldest  physi- 
cians in  the  city  of  Yonkers.  He  was  born  in  Munich,  kingdom  of  Bavaria, 
March  4,  1812.  His  father,  Ferdinand  Reinfelder,  was  a  surgeon  in  the 
military  academy  of  that  capital,  where  he  was  in  active  service  thirty-three 
years.  Dr.  Reinfelder  came  to  the  United  States  in  1854,  and  practised 
medicine  in  Yonkers  for  thirty-three  years.  He  was  a  man  of  acknowl- 
edged reputation  in  the  profession,  and  was  consulting  physician  to  St. 
John's  Riverside  Hospital.  He  was  liberal  and  kind  to  the  poor,  lend- 
ing a  helping  hand  in  time  of  need,  and  serving  them  professionally  with 
little  or  no  remuneration.  The  remark  of  one  of  them,  "  I  will  shed  many 
bitter  tears  when  Dr.  Reinfelder  dies,"  touchingly  expresses  the  estimation 
in  which  he  was  held  by  them,  and  it  was  fully  manifested  at  his  funeral. 


412  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

four  chancel  windows  are  of  stained  glass  and  those  in  the 
auditorium  of  ground  glass.  The  seating  capacity  is  three 
hundred.  The  gallery  at  the  south  end  of  the  auditorium 
was  added  five  years  after  the  building  of  the  church.  The 
second  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  Leo  Koenig,  and  Herman 
Muller  collected  for  the  building  of  the  church  from  their 
English-speaking  friends  $5,000.  William  Beutler  and 
Henry  Deitrich  collected  from  their  German  friends  $500 
for  the  same  object.  The  lots  cost  $2,000.  The  church 
cost  $10,000.  The  present  valuation  of  the  church  prop- 
erty is  $14,000. 

The  successive  pastors  of  this  church  have  been :  Rev. 
J.  H.  Sommer,  from  December,  1870,  to  1872.  Rev.  Leo 
Koenig,  from  December,  1872,  to  1877.  Rev.  Armindus  Vol- 
quarts,  from  1877  to  November,  1878.  Mr.  Volquarts  died 
March  11,  1882,  at  Egg  Harbor,  N.  Y.  The  next  and  pres- 
ent pastor  of  this  church  preached  his  first  sermon  to  this 
people  on  Advent  Sunday,  1878,  when  he  was  called  to  be- 
come its  pastor,  but  was  not  installed  until  April,  1879. 

Rev.  Mr.  Foehlinger  at  the  time  of  his  call  to  this  pas- 
torate preached  in  Hastings  on  Sunday  afternoons.  He 
took  part  in  the  dedicatory  exercises  of  the  German  church 
there  in  February,  1887.  He  gave  up  his  charge  in  Hast- 
ings after  assuming  the  entire  charge  of  this  church,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  to  this  people  as  has  been  stated. 
In  April,  1878,  the  following  clergymen,  members  of  the 
New  York  Ministerium,  took  part  in  the  service  of  installa- 
tion :  Rev.  R.  Keyl,  Rev.  L.  Koenig,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cowls. 

Rev.  Frederick  William  Foehlinger  was  born  in  Rhen- 
ish Prussia,  near  Coblentz,  was  educated  at  the  University 
of  Bonn,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1848. 

Rev.  Mr.  Foehlinger's  pastorate  of  this  church  has  been 
successful  both  spiritually  and  temporally.  He  has  suc- 
ceeded in  reducing  a  mortgage  debt  of  over  $6,000  to  $2,000, 
and  the  membership  has  increased  to  168,  which  is  the 
present  number  of  communicants.  He  is  much  beloved  by 
his  people. 

The  church  has  connected  with  it  a  society  called  "  The 
Young  Folks'  Friendly  Society." 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are :  Wm.  Beutler, 


ST.   JOHN'S   GERMAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH.  413 

John  Hailfinger,  Frederick  Bode,  Frederick  Griender,  and 
Charles  Miller,  Elders  ;  Wm.  Beutler,  John  Hailfinger,  and 
Frederick  Bode,  Trustees. 

The  communion  service  was  a  gift  from  the  ladies  of 
the  church. 

The  inscription  on  the  Bible  is  as  follows :  "  Von  den 
Frauen  der  Deutschen  Evang.  Lutherischen  St.  Johannis 
Gemeinde  in  Yonkers,  A.  D.  1873." 

The  white  marble  baptismal  font  bears  the  following 
inscription :  "  Zum  Andenken  An  Frau  U.  Merz  und  ihre 
enkelin  B.  Reinfelder." 

The  organist  is  Miss  Louise  Muller. 

The  sexton  is  Mrs.  Reitzaumaner. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  was  organized  September  1 1 ,  1 869, 
in  a  room  located  on  Broadway,  next  door  to  the  Yonkers 
Savings'  Bank,  opposite  Hudson  Street. 

The  following  persons  were  present  at  its  organization : 
Miss  Louise  Muller,  Herman  Muller,  who  subsequently  be- 
came Dr.  Muller;  Miss  Gretchen  Gaul,  Peter  Hagen,  and 
Frederick  Deator.  These  persons,  with  twenty  pupils,  were 
present  at  the  first  session  of  the  school.  About  six  months 
after  the  school  was  removed  to  a  room  in  a  building  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  South  Broadway  and  Main  Street,  now 
the  office  of  the  Westchester  Telephone  Company.  Peter 
Hagen  was  chosen  the  first  superintendent. 

The  school  remained  in  this  building  for  three  years, 
after  which  it  was  taken  to  St.  John's  Chapel  on  Hudson 
Street,  and  remained  there  till  the  day  of  the  dedication  of 
the  church,  in  December,  1874. 

The  school  has  held  many  pleasant  picnics.  Their  first 
annual  picnic  was  held  in  Dr.  Herriot's  grounds  on  South 
Broadway,  which  he  most  generously  tendered  to  them  on 
that  occasion,  in  August,  1875. 

The  annual  picnic  in  August,  1888,  was  held  on  South 
Broadway  on  Christfield's  farm.  The  school  to  the  number 
of  140  went  in  stages  from  Getty  Square.  The  proceeds  of 
this  picnic  were  $63,  which  went  into  the  school  fund. 

The  first  Christmas  festival  which  the  school  celebrated 


414  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

was  held  in  the  hall  over  the  building  which  occupied  the 
site  where  the  Yonkers  station  of  the  New  York  and  North- 
ern Railway  now  stands.  At  this  pleasant  gathering  there 
were  present  twenty-nine  pupils  with  their  teachers. 

The  first  Christmas  festival  held  in  the  new  church 
was  on  December  25,  1874,  in  the  morning.  There  was 
good  speaking  and  excellent  singing  by  the  children. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  the  school  in 
the  centennial  year,  December,  1876:  "This  Sunday-school 
meets  in  the  church  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  under 
the  superintendency  of  William  Beutler.  It  is  composed  of 
the  German  children  of  our  city.  Officers,  2  ;  teachers,  14; 
average  attendance,  80;  largest  attendance,  100;  volumes 
in  library,  100 ;  receipts,  $250;  expenditures,  $225.  Officers 
of  the  school  are :  William  Beutler,  Superintendent ;  N. 
Kolpin,  Secretary.  The  teachers  are  :  Miss  Louise  Muller, 
Miss  L.  Klein,  Miss  E.  Stokl,  Miss  R.  Mockel,  Miss  Bertha 
Beutler,  Miss  M.  Kuster,  Miss  A.  Weltzien,  Miss  Barum- 
bach.  Miss  B.  Fuhrman,  and  Messrs.  Herman  Muller,  Kerl, 
Meinhardt,  Litz,  Weltzien,  and  J.  Kolpin." 

The  Christmas  festival  in  1888  was  held  on  Christmas 
night  in  the  church.  The  attendance  was  large.  There 
could  be  no  mistaking  the  nature  of  the  service,  or  that 
Kris  Kringle  was  around,  for,  on  opening  the  church  door, 
the  most  prominent  object  that  met  the  gaze  was  a  mam- 
moth Christmas-tree,  illuminated  from  top  to  bottom  with 
dozens  of  burning  tapers. 

There  was  some  good  singing,  and  an  excellent  address 
was  made  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Foehlinger.  A 
distribution  of  presents  followed,  and  the  children  went 
home  filled  with  gladness  and  loaded  with  good  things. 

Children's  Day  is  regularly  observed  by  the  school. 

A  monthly  collection  is  taken  up  and  is  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  missions,  and  averages  $100  per  year. 

A  donation  from  the  Sunday-school  is  given  annually 
to  the  Wartburg  Orphans'  Farm  School,  an  institution  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

In  1886  the  school  had  on  its  roll  one  hundred  schol- 
ars and  sixteen  officers  and  teachers,  six  of  the  latter  being 
ladies.     The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  ten. 


ST,  JOHN'S  GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH.      415 

This  school  has  decreased  in  membership  on  account  of  the 
establishment  of  another  German  Sunday-school  in  the 
city.  Bruno  Hailfinger  has  been  the  efficient  secretary  of 
this  school  for  five  years  and  still  holds  that  office. 

In  1888  fifteen  pupils  from  the  Sunday-school  were  re- 
ceived into  the  church  and  in  1889,  nine. 

The  Primary  class  is  taught  by  Miss  Heinrichs,  and 
numbers  fifteen  scholars. 

The  lessons  taught  are  from  the  historical  books  of  the 
Bible  and  the  Lutheran  Catechism.  The  singing  book  is 
"  The  Sunday-school  Harmony."  The  Sunday-school  help 
is  "  Der  Bibelforscher,"  which  is  used  by  the  teachers  for 
the  larger  classes.  The  papers  distributed  are  "  Der  Mitar- 
beiter  "  and  "  Lutherifches  Kinderblatt." 

Number  of  volumes  in  library,  90. 

The  school  meets  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  present  superintendent,  William  Beutler,  has  held 
that  place  for  nineteen  years  and  for  his  long  term  of  ser- 
vice in  connection  with  this  Sunday-school  is  among  the 
honorary  list  of  Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers.  He  is 
held  in  warm  affection  by  his  teachers  and  the  scholars  of 
his  school.  As  a  testimonial  of  his  valuable  services  he  was 
presented  by  the  school  with  an  elegantly  bound  copy  of 
the  Scriptures  in  1882.  And  on  Christmas  of  1887  he  re- 
ceived a  handsome  volume  of  the  sermons  of  Rev.  Carl 
Wm.  Frederick  Wallers,  the  founder  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America. 

The  superintendents  of  this  school  in  the  order  of  their 
service  have  been  Peter  Hagen,  Frederick  Deator,  and  Wil- 
liam Beutler. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are  :  WilKam  Beutler, 
Superintendent ;  Pastor  Foehlinger,  Treasurer ;  Bruno  Hail- 
finger, Secretary;  Louise  Lohr,  Librarian.  The  teachers 
,  are :  IMisses  Anna  Vangerow,  Ida  Schieper,  Katie  Schloss- 
han,  Maria  Sievers,  Katie  Koch,  Annie  Jurgens,  Helen 
Heinrichs,  Christrane  Rentier,  Louise  Lohr,  Minnie  Gaul, 
Messrs.  Frederick  Keil,  Frederick  Bitter,  Albertina  Berger, 
Bruno  Hailfinger,  and  Superintendent  William  Beutler 
The  leader  of  the  singing  is  Katie  Koch,  who  is  also  the  or- 
ganist for  the  school. 


4l6  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

CHRIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  AND  SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  church,  formerly  known  as  St.  Mary's  Free  Epis- 
copal Church,  was  founded  by  Miss  Caroline  Jones,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Jones,  who  was  senior  warden  of  St. 
John's  Episcopal  Church  of  Yonkers  from  1 841-1843.  Miss 
Caroline  Jones,  desirous  of  founding  a  free  Episcopal 
Church  in  Yonkers,  gave  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  in 
1867,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  as  the  nucleus  of  a 
fund  to  that  end.  Shortly  after  the  before-mentioned  date 
she  made  a  will  and  appointed  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr., 
and  her  sister,  Miss  Louisa  Jones,  as  executors  of  said  will. 
She  left  a  plot  of  land  on  Ashburton  Avenue,  near  the  cor- 
ner of  what  is  now  Jones'  Place,  and  authorized  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Cobb  to  sell  the  ground  if  not  desirable  for  the  object 
stated.  After  her  death,  in  1868,  the  plot  was  sold,  and  the 
proceeds,  with  the  one  thousand  dollars  previously  men- 
tioned, were  deposited  in  the  Yonkers  Savings-Bank. 

In  1 87 1  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb  selected  Messrs.  J.  Foster  Jen- 
kins, M.  D.,  S.  Emmet  Getty,  Geo.  W.  Cobb,  Britton  Rich- 
ardson, Charles  W.  Seymour,  and  the  Rev.  M.  R.  Hooper, 
four  of  whom  were  members  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church, 
to  join  with  him  in  organizing  a  free  church.  These  gentle- 
men composed  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  church. 

In  the  year  1872  the  eligible  site  which  the  church 
occupies,  corner  of  Elm  Street  and  Nepperhan  Avenue,  was 
purchased.  *At  that  time  the  savings-bank  investment  had 
grown  to  about  $6,000.  The  lot  was  purchased  for  $4,000. 
A  mortgage  was  given  for  the  whole  amount.  On  Tues- 
day, April  24,  1872,  the  service  of  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  this  church  took  place,  in  which  the  Rev.  William 
S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  the  Rev. 
Darius  Richmond  Brewer,  a  former  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  the  Rev.  Angus  M.  Ives,  of  Tuckahoe,  the  Rev.  M. 
R.  Hooper,  and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  took  part.  Brief 
and  appropriate   addresses   were   made  by   the    Rev.    Dr. 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  417 

Langford  and  the  Rev  Mr.  Brewer,  In  the  absence  of  the 
Bishop  the  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  officiated  in  his 
place.  Within  the  corner-stone  was  placed  a  copper  box 
containing  a  copy  of  the  Bible,  a  Prayer  Book,  a  Church 
Almanac  of  1872,  the  names  of  trustees  and  officers  of  the 
church,  a  photograph  of  Miss  Caroline  Jones,  and  an  ex- 
tract from  her  will. 

The  sweet-sounding  bell  in  the  belfry  for  the  first 
time  rang  out  its  invitation  to  worship  in  the  church  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  July  14,  1872.  The  exercises  were  con- 
ducted by  the  Rev.  William  S.  Langford,  D.  D.,  rector  of 
St.  John's  Church,  the  Rev.  David  F.  Banks,  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  the  Rev.  M.  R,  Hooper,  and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb, 
Jr.  After  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Banks  the  holy  com- 
munion was  celebrated. 

The  church  is  constructed  of  wood  with  the  outer  walls 
filled  in  with  brick,  with  deafened  floors,  slate  roof,  and 
stained  glass  windows.  A  wide  aisle  extends  through  the 
auditorium  from  the  vestibule  to  the  altar,  having  seats 
arranged  on  both  sides.  There  are  fixed  settees,  neat  and 
comfortable.  Upon  the  chancel  window,  back  of  the  altar, 
some  Scripture  scenes  are  represented,  which  are  Mount 
Sinai,  Jerusalem,  and  a  rustic  cross  bearing  the  inscrip- 
tion L  N.  R.  L,  and  before  w^hich  a  female  figure  is 
kneeling  in  the  act  of  worship. 

The  light  from  the  morning  sun  breaking  in  upon  this 
window  produces  a  singular  and  beautiful  etfect.  It  is  a 
memorial  donated  by  Miss  Louisa  Jones.  A  marble  tablet 
in  the  form  of  a  Maltese  cross  is  on  the  wall  to  the  right  of 
this  window,  commemorating  the  memory  of  Miss  Caro- 
line Jones,  who  after  a  life  of  faith  and  good  works  entered 
into  the  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God  on 
October  30,  1868.     The  tablet  bears  this  inscription  : 

in  §cmorij  of 

MISS  CAROLINE  JONES, 

BY   WHOSE   LIBERALITY 
THIS   CHURCH   WAS   FOUNDED. 

The  building  is  25  by  64  feet.  The  vestry  room,  which 
is  12  by   12  feet,  contains  two  large  windows,  and  is  in  a 

Sunday-school  Work.  27 


4l8  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

wing  off  from  the  chancel.  The  porch  is  6  by  lo  feet  and 
has  a  belfry  on  it.  The  finishing  and  furnishing  of  the 
church  building  was  evidently  ordered  with  a  view  to  neat- 
ness and  comfort  rather  than  elegance  and  show.  John  A. 
East  was  the  builder. 

Owing  to  adverse  circumstances,  in  1 880  the  mortgage 
on  the  church  was  foreclosed  and  the  property  bought  in 
by  James  C.  Bell,  who  subsequently  deeded  it  to  the  Rev. 
Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  who  assumed  the  payment  of  a  new 
mortgage  by  giving  his  personal  bond. 

In  1884,  during  Mr.  Cobb's  absence  in  Europe,  the 
church  was  offered  for  sale,  and  his  son,  having  power  of 
attorney  for  the  purpose,  sold  it  to  Mrs.  Virginia  Clark, 
widow  of  John  H.  Clark,  a  member  of  St.  John's  parish, 
who  assumed  the  mortgage  of  $4,800  which  encumbered 
it  and  liquidated  a  floating  debt  of  $700.  This  most  gen- 
erous and  timely  assistance  stimulated  the  members  and 
friends  of  the  church  to  a  wonderfully  vigorous  and  suc- 
cessful effort  to  pay  its  remaining  indebtedness,  which 
they  succeeded  in  accomplishing  under  the  leadership  of 
their  rector,  the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  who  was  untiring  in 
his  personal  effort  and  unwearied  in  planning  measures 
which  finally  resulted  in  bringing  about  this  most  desira- 
ble object. 

The  church  was  then  put  in  the  hands  of  the  Bishop, 
cooperating  with  an  advisory  board. 

The  church  property  was  considerably  enhanced  in 
value  by  the  gift  of  a  portable  building  for  church  and  Sun- 
day-school purposes,  in  October,  1885,  from  Mrs.  Virginia 
Clark,  a  member  of  St.  John's  Church  of  Yonkers.  The 
building  was  manufactured  at  Corona,  L.  I.,  and  is  two 
stories  high,  17  by  40  feet  in  its  dimensions,  and  will  accom- 
modate between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred  persons. 
It  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  a  portion  of  which 
faces  Nepperhan  Avenue.  This  buildng  was  erected  in 
.  memory  of  Mrs.  Clark's  parents.  It  is  known  as  the 
"  Parish  House,"  and  is  most  convenient,  and  has  become 
a  necessity  in  carrying  forward  church  and  Sunday-school 
work. 

Sunday,  December  9,  1888,  marked  a  most  important 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  419 

and  memorable  event  in  the  history  of  this  church.  On  that 
day  the  church  was  consecrated  to  the  use  and  service  of 
Almighty  God  with  the  impressive  ritual  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Promptly  at  eleven  o'clock  Bishop  Henry  C.  Pot- 
ter, of  New  York,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Mackay-Smith,  Arch- 
deacon of  New  York,  the  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Snively,  of  Brooklyn, 
and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  met  the  wardens  and  vestry- 
men of  the  parish  at  the  door  of  the  church  and  proceeded 
up  the  aisle  to  the  chancel  while  the  twenty-fourth  Psalm 
was  being  read.  The  floral  decorations  of  the  church  were 
elaborate.  In  front  of  the  font,  which  was  richly  decorated, 
stood  a  beautiful  cross,  while  the  altar  was  hidden  beneath 
a  mass  of  fragrant  flowers.  The  instrument  of  donation 
was  read  by  John  W.  Alexander,  and  the  consecration  ser- 
vice by  Dr.  Snively.  The  anthem  "  Rejoice  in  the  Lord, 
ye  righteous,"  was  then  sung.  Morning  prayer  was  read 
by  the  rector,  assisted  by  Dr.  Snively  and  Mr.  Cobb.  '  A 
powerful  and  eloquent  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Arch- 
deacon from  St.  Matthew  ii  :  16-19.  After  the  sermon  the 
Bishop,  in  a  few  fitting  words,  touched  upon  the  past  history 
of  the  church  and  its  future  prospects.  James  Pearce,  Mus. 
Doc,  of  Yonkers,  presided  at  the  organ,  supported  by  a  full 
choir.  The  music  was  well  rendered  and  appropriate  to 
the  occasion. 

After  the  dedication  of  the  church  in  1872,  the  Rev. 
Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  officiated  for  several  months,  holding 
morning  services,  afternoon  services  being  conducted  by 
the  clergymen  of  Yonkers,  Hastings,  and  Riverdale.  The 
Rev.  S.  S.  Lewis  officiated  for  two  years  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  William  Hyde,  who  served  for  one  year.  Next 
came  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Barnes,  who  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  B.  Moore.  The  Rev.  Charles  Ferris  was  the 
next  rector,  for  a  brief  period,  and  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  S.  Carlin,  a  student  in  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  of  New  York.  On  June  16,  1886,  the  Rev. 
August  Ulmann,  who  from  June  i,  1884,  had  officiated  as 
assistant  minister  of  St.  John's  Church,  was  elected  rector. 
His  pastoral  career  was  marked  with  great  success,  as  man- 
ifested in  its  various  forms  of  work,  and  under  his  charge 
the  parish  greatly  prospered. 


420  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

In  June,  1890,  the  Rev.  August  Ulmann  tendered  his 
resignation  as  rector  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church,  Yonkers, 
and  is  now  Rector  of  Trinity  School,  New  York  city. 

The  vestry  and  congregation  passed  resolutions  expres- 
sive of  their  regret  at  his  departure  from  Yonkers,  which 
were  placed  on  the  records  of  the  church. 

The  Rev.  E.  S.  Widdemer,  formerly  of  the  church  of 
the  Messiah,  Philadelphia,  preached  his  inaugural  sermon 
at  Christ  Church  on  Sunday  morning  October  6,  1 890.  He 
created  a  very  favorable  impression.  The  subject  of  his 
sermon  was  "  Prayer,"  the  text  being  the  first  clause  of 
Psalm  122:6 — "Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem,"  and  he 
emphasized  the  point  that  to  make  his  ministry  a  success 
in  Yonkers  he  needed  the  prayerful  cooperation  of  his 
whole  congregation. 

The  Rev.  Ephraim  Solliday  Widdemer,  rector  of  Christ 
Episcopal  Church,  Yonkers,  is  one  of  those  fortunate  clergy- 
men who  knew  and  did  something  else  in  life  before  he 
entered  the  ministry,  Mr.  Widdemer  came  from  the  law 
to  the  gospel.  He  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  where  he 
was  a  law-student  in  the  office  of  the  late  Benjamin  Harris 
Brewster,  ex-Attorney  General  of  the  United  States.  But 
he  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  in  New  York,  and  is 
still  in  full  standing  as  a  member  of  the  Bar  of  this  State. 

Mr.  Widdemer,  who  is  now  in  late  middle  life,  was 
ordained  by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter  in  St.  Luke's  Church, 
New  York  city,  in  June, 1857.  His  opening  work  was  in 
Northern  New  York,  where  he  for  several  years  was  rector 
of  St.  John's  Church,  Stillwater,  Saratoga  County.  Thence 
he  went  at  the  Bishop's  request  to  inaugurate  a  new  work 
in  the  city  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  Here  he  began  a  parish  dc  novo. 
There  were  in  the  section  of  the  city  selected  neither  Epis- 
copal Church,  Sunday-school,  vestry,  congregation,  nor  any- 
thing else  except  people.  At  the  end  of  four  years  St. 
Luke's  Church  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  thoroughly  established, 
a  handsome  stone  edifice  built  (and  paid  for)  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $25,000,  parsonage,  150  members,  and  a  large  Sun- 
day-school. Mr.  Widdemer  was  called  from  Troy  to  Phil- 
adelphia, where  within  two  years  he  repeated  the  same  work 
in  effect,  leaving  the  present  Church  of  the  Annunciation, 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  421 

(then  called  the  Church  of  the  Merciful  Saviour)  fully 
established.  The  next  ten  years  were  spent  in  very  success- 
ful work  in  New  York  city.  He  was  then,  in  1883,  recalled 
to  Philadelphia,  where  as  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Mes- 
siah he  spent  eight  years,  leaving  there  last  October,  against 
the  personal  solicitation  of  his  Bishop,  to  become  rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Yonkers.  Rev.  Mr.  Widdemer  is  a  rapid, 
fluent,  and  extempore  speaker.  He  has  the  faculty  of  build- 
ing up  and  holding  a  congregation. 

The  parish  register  gives  the  following  statistics :  From 
January  27,  1878,  to  July  2,  1885:  Baptisms,  34;  confirma- 
tions, 22;  marriages,  3;  deaths,  9.  From  July  2,  1885,  to 
July  I,  1889:  Baptisms,  165;  confirmations,  66  ;  marriages, 
6"];  deaths,  103  ;  number  of  communicants,  158. 

On  Easter  Monday,  1886,  Theodore  J.  Bayer  and  Henry 
Stengel  were  elected  Wardens,  and  William  Webb,  W. 
C.  Pool,  Henry  Gaul,  John  Braithwaite,  Samuel  Hayward, 
Henry  Back,  Albert  Hanson,  and  George  Taylor,  Vestry- 
men. 

The  present  officers  are.  Wardens :  Henry  Stengel,  John 
W.  Alexander.  Vestrymen :  E.  R.  Gardiner,  John  H.  Rein, 
William  Roberts,  William  H.  Scriven,  John  Brazier,  Henry 
Gaul,  Jeremiah  Simmonds. 

Improvements  are  contemplated  in  the  enlargement  of 
the  church  building.  A  memorial  fund  in  memory  of  Raf- 
faelle  Cobb,  Jr.,  has  been  created,  May,  1891,  by  subscrip- 
tions of  a  specified  amount  till  the  same  shall  have  reached 
the  required  amount  for  the  said  enlargement. 

Parochial  statistics,  September  i ,  1 890 :  Number  of 
souls,  318 ;  baptisms,  51  ;  confirmed,  25  ;  marriages,  15  ;  bur- 
ials, 24  ;  communicants,  160;  expenditures,  total  for  all  ob- 
jects, 1890,  $3,372  J  J. 

Christ  Church  Chapter  302  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St. 
Andrew  was  organized  May,  1889,  with  a  membership  of 
twenty-two.  Its  officers  were  John  W.  Alexander,  Presi- 
dent ;  William  Roberts,  Secretary ;  John  Braithwaite,  Treas- 
urer, and  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  chaplain. 

Christ  Church  Chapter  is  still  young,  but  its  work  al- 
ready shows  abundant  and  blessed  fruit. 

The  first  organist  of  the  church  was  Mrs.  James  B. 


422  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Silkman,  who  served  gratuitously  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  following  persons  composed  the  first  choir  of  this 
church  :  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  soprano ;  Miss  Mollie  Hill,  alto ; 
John  Lovette,  bass ;  Theodore  Bayer,  tenor.  Robert  Walsh 
was  the  organist  for  ten  years  until  his  removal  from 
the  city,  in  June,  1881.  The  choir  were  assisted  by  several 
persons  who  were  also  volunteers.  Miss  Libbie  Bigger- 
staff  succeeded  Mr.  Walsh  as  organist.  Theodore  Bayer 
was  the  director  of  the  singing  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
led  the  volunteer  choir,  which  was  composed  of  ten  voices, 
mainly  of  members  of  the  church.  Miss  Flora  Stengel  is 
the  present  organist.  The  choir,  1890,  consisted  of  Mrs. 
Irene  Hartt,  and  Misses  Emma  Blair,  Emma  G.  lies.  Chap- 
man, and  Watson,  soprano ;  Mrs.  Henry  Bark  and  Miss 
Watson,  alto  ;  Wm.  Pierpoint,  Jr.,  tenor  ;  and  Henry  Bark 
and  Samuel  Hayward,  bass. 

The  pulpit  Bible  was  presented  by  the  children  of 
Samuel  Emmet  Getty.  The  Bishop's  chair,  the  rector's 
chair,  the  lectern,  the  stalls,  the  pulpit,  and  the  altar-cloths 
were  presented  as  memorials  by  Miss  Louisa  Jones.  The 
first  communion  service  was  also  presented  as  a  memorial 
by  Miss  Sarah  Jones,  another  sister.  This  service  was  re- 
cently donated  to  a  destitute  church  in  the  West,  after  a 
very  handsome  service  had  been  presented  by  Mrs.  Vir- 
ginia Clark,  in  1 888.  The  font  was  presented  by  the  Rev. 
Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  as  a  memorial  of  his  father,  Lyman 
Cobb,  A.  M.,  author. 

A  handsome  new  organ,  manufactured  by  Mason  and 
Risch,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  was  placed  in  the  church  in 
1888. 

The  present  sexton  is  Charles  Hanson. 

The  outlook  of  this  church  is  bright,  encouraging,  and 
hopeful.  The  work  of  its  members,  as  well  as  of  those  who 
have  officiated  in  the  pulpit,  and  whose  influence  and  pa- 
tient continuance  in  well-doing  have  contributed  towards  its 
present  prosperity,  and  whose  faithful  and  self-sacrificing 
efforts  as  they  toiled  to  build  up  this  church  are  still  cher- 
ished and  cannot  be  forgotten.  Some. have  passed  into 
the  other  world,  while  others  are  still  toiling  in  other  fields, 
yet  this  church  is  reaping  the  benefit  of  their  fruitful  lives 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  423 

May  the  record  of  what  has  been  accomplished  in  the 
past  be  a  spur  and  an  incentive  to  those  who  remain  to  do 
more  even  in  the  future  than  has  been  done,  that  they 
may  bear  aloft  with  steady  hands  the  banner  of  the  Cross 
in  the  midst  of  a  careless  world,  strengthened,  encouraged, 
and  upheld  as  they  recall  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus  how 
he  said  :  "  And  herein  is  that  saying  true.  One  soweth  and 
another  reapeth.  I  sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  be- 
stowed no  labor ;  other  men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into 
their  labors.  And  he  that  reapeth  receiveth  wages  and 
gathereth  fruit  unto  life  eternal,  that  both  he  that  sow- 
eth and  he  that  reapeth  may  rejoice  together." 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

To  Samuel  Emmet  Getty  was  given  the  privilege 
and  honor  of  founding  the  Sunday-school  connected  with 
this  church.  It  was  organized  the  day  the  church  build- 
ing was  ready  for  occupancy,  July  14,  1872,  and  took  the 
name  of  the  church,  which  was  then  "  St.  Mary's." 

S.  Emmet  Getty,  who  was  at  that  time  the  superin- 
tendent of  St.  John's  Church  Sunday-school,  was  chosen 
the  superintendent.  The  session  was  held  in  the  afternoon 
at  three  o'clock.  School  was  flourishing  from  its  start ;  schol- 
ars from  St.  John's  Sunday-school  attended  it  in  the  after- 
noon, and  many  from  the  immediate  neighborhood,  and 
the  attendance  in  a  few  weeks  was  about  one  hundred 
scholars. 

Among  the  early  teachers  are  recalled  Mrs.  Lyman 
Cobb,  Jr.,  Miss  Gertrude  Cobb,  Miss  M.  J.  Hill,  Miss  Rebecca 
Fisher,  Miss  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silkman, 
and  others,  who  were  volunteers  from  St.  John's  Sunday- 
school.  At  a  later  date  Mrs.  A.  E.  C.  Hyde,  Miss  Anna 
Teresa  Bate,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Beebe,  Miss  Anna  Wells,  and 
Messrs.  Wells,  Raffaelle  Cobb,  and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb, 
Jr.,  became  teachers. 

The  young  ladies'  Biblfe-class  was  taught  by  the  Rev. 
Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.  The  first  library  was  the  generous  gift 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cobb.  The  first  hymn  book  used  contained 
a  collection  of  hymns  without  music  and  a  service  for 
opening  and  closing  the  school.     The  tunes  for  the  hymns 


424  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

were  selected  from  all  sources.  They  were  familiar  church 
tunes.  The  collections  were  devoted  to  home  missions  of 
the  church,  and  contributions  were  given  from  time  to 
time  by  the  children  to  St.  John's  Riverside  Hospital. 

"The  Sunday-school  of  the  Free  Episcopal  Church  of 
St.  Mary's  held  a  very  pleasant  Christmas  festival  in  De- 
cember, 1875.  The  main  feature  of  the  exercises  was  a 
magic  lantern  exhibition  by  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr., 
which  delighted  the  children  and  gave  enjoyment  to  all. 
An  interesting  address  was  made  by  the  rector,  the  Rev. 
Charles  Ferris." 

A  printed  report  of  this  school  during  the  centennial 
year— December,  1876 — gives  the  following  statistics:  Offi- 
cers, 3  ;  teachers,  1 1  ;  scholars  on  register,  140 ;  average 
attendance,  80;  volumes  in  library,  200;  receipts  for  the 
year,  $45  ;  expenditures,  $45.  The  officers  of  the  school 
are  :  Rev.  S.  S.  Lewis,  Superintendent ;  F.  Eugene  Cobb, 
Librarian  ;  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  Treasurer.  The 
teachers  are :  Mrs.  Newlin,  Mrs.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  Mr.  S. 
S.  Lewis,  Misses  Minnie  P.  Cobb,  Gertrude  Cobb,  E.  M. 
Cook,  Stengel,  Thomas,  Messrs.  Theodore  Silkman,  John 
Wells,  and  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.  Theodore  Silkman 
succeeded  Mr.  Getty  as  superintendent,  and  during  his  su- 
perintendency  the  school  was  well  attended  and  did  good 
work. 

The  school  celebrated  its  Easter  festival  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  April  26,  1878,  at  two  o'clock.  The  children  sang 
their  carols  very  sweetly,  and  addresses  were  made  by  the 
Rev.  William  Hyde,  rector  of  the  church,  Theodore  Silk- 
man, superintendent  of  the  school,  and  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Forbes,  of  Scarsdale. 

On  a  large  red  arch  were  the  words  "  I  am  the  resur- 
rection and  the — "  and  as  each  class  presented  its  offering 
it  also  furnished  a  tiny  white  bouquet,  which  were  success- 
ively placed  in  a  wire  framework.  And  when  the  last  class 
had  given  its  bouquet,  the  floral  word  "  life  "  was  completed 
in  the  centre  of  this  arch,  finishing  the  quotation. 

The  amount  of  the  Easter  offering  was  $20,  which  was 
devoted  to  the  church  fund. 

More    than   ordinary   preparation   was    made    by  the 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  425 

church  to  give  the  children  a  generous  treat  at  their  Christ- 
mas celebration,  December,  1878.  The  bright  young  faces 
of  the  children  wore  a  look  of  anticipation  as  they  gathered 
in  the  church,  and  the  sight  of  the  handsome  tree  laden 
with  good  things  and  gleaming  with  the  lights  was  not 
calculated  to  lessen  their  pleasure.  The  beautiful  carols 
were  well  sung  and  the  remarks  of  the  rector  were  listened 
to  with  great  attention,  which  they  merited,  after  which  the 
children  received  their  gifts. 

The  school  under  the  superintendency  of  the  Rev.  Ly- 
man Cobb,  Jr.,  was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 

The  following  incident  is  related  showing  the  great 
interest  and  attachment  the  children  manifested  for  their 
superintendent  and  teachers.  A  few  weeks  previous  to 
their  Christmas  entertainment  they  were  informed  that  the 
Sunday-schools  of  the  city  would  hold  their  Christmas  fes- 
tivals on  the  same  evening,  and  those  who  belonged  to  this 
school  and  who  were  also  members  of  other  Sunday-schools 
could  choose  which  school  they  desired  to  be  identified  with 
on  that  occasion. 

The  choice  was  made,  and  only  three  scholars  out  of 
the  entire  school  (a  number  of  whom  also  attended  other 
schools)  decided  not  to  remain. 

This  was  indeed  a  trial  test  of  their  devotion  to  the 
school,  inasmuch  as  the  other  schools  had  greater  attrac- 
tions on  that  occasion. 

The  school  under  the  superintendency  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  S.  Carlin  continued  to  prosper  for  a  time.  After 
his  resignation  it  declined  in  numbers  and  interest  in  a 
marked  degree,  so  that  the  record  roll  when  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ulmann  assumed  charge,  July,  1885,  showed  but  fifty-six 
scholars  and  six  teachers.  The  number  of  scholars  at  the 
preceding  Christmas  festival,  1884,  was  about  one  hundred. 

Twice  a  year  the  list  of  scholars  is  corrected,  at  Christ- 
mas and  Trinity  Sunday.  In  consequence  of  this  the  at- 
tendance compared  with  the  number  of  scholars  on  the  roll 
record  is  large.  This  Sunday-school  carries  no  dead  wood 
on  paper. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ulmann,  on  assuming  the  charge  of  the 
school,  prepared  an  "  honor  roll."     The  names  of  the  pupils 


426  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

who  are  perfect  in  punctuality,  deportment,  and  in  their 
Bible  lesson  and  catechism  during  six  months  are  placed 
on  the  roll  according  to  their  standing,  and  a  number  deno- 
ting the  number  of  times  they  were  perfect  in  all  the  re- 
quirements necessary  for  their  names  to  appear  on  the 
honor  roll  is  placed  after  their  name.  The  honor  roll  at 
the  Christmas  festival  held  Wednesday,  December  30,  1885, 
shows  the  following  names  : 

First  Grade — James  Van  Varick,  20  ;  Upson  Van  Var- 
ick,  20;  Susie  Tyrrell,  19;  Bertina  Watson,  19. 

Honorable  Mention  —  Emma  Archerd,  Jennie  Back, 
Amelia  Betts,  Alice  M.  Edgar,  Gertrude  Laforge,  Libbie 
Martin,  Edith  Oakley,  Lillie  Taylor,  Marie  White,  Millie 
White  Arthur  Hyde,  Frank  Hyde,  Willie  Hyde,  John  Mar- 
tin, William  Martin. 

Second  Grade — Lillian  Fisher,  18;  Marion  Fisher,  18; 
Susie  Ingalls,  18  ;  "Lavinia  Jenkins,  18  ;  Miriam  Mottram,  18  ; 
Sadie  Simmonds,  18;  Dora  Underhill,  18;  Josie  Bayer,  18: 
Clara  Mellor,  17;  Willie  Bruce,  17;  Neville  Williams,  17. 

Third  Grade— Annie  Bell,  16;  Sarah  Mellor,  16;  Amy 
Archerd,  1 5  ;  Nellie  Perry,  1 5  ;  Gertie  Underhill,  1 5  ;  Sadie 
Borland,  14;  Emma  Crowther,  14;  Rosa  Gabriel,  14 :  Gussie 
Taylor,  14;  Mamie  Taylor,  14;  Raffaelle  Cobb,  Jr.,  14;  Sam- 
uel Mellor,  14. 

The  honor  roll  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1886,  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

First  Grade,  2a— Susie  Tyrrell,  Marie  White,  Marion 
Fisher,  Nellie  Hurd,  William  Martin,  Arthur  Hyde,  James 
Van  Varick,  Charles  Eisenhut,  Ida  Holberton,  Millie  White, 
Lillian  Fisher,  Charles  Mellefont,  WilHe  Hyde,  Raffaelle 
Cobb,  Jr. 

Honorable  Mention — Cogen  Marran,  Charles  Johnston, 
Upson  Van  Varick. 

Second  Grade — Miriam  Mottram,  18;  Sadie  Borland, 
17;  Bessie  Gardiner,  18;  Libbie  Martin,  19;  Anna  White, 
17;  Nellie  Gardiner,  19;  Gertrude  Underhill,  17;  Emma 
Sibert,  18;  Sadie  Simmonds,  18;  Lavinia  Jenkins,  18;  Liz- 
zie Borland,  18;  Sarah  Mellor,  19;  Lizzie  Myers,  17;  Alice 
Edgar,  18;  Sadie  Perry,  17;  Gussie  Taylor,  17;  Edith  Oak- 
ley, 18;  Emma  Blair,  17;  Susie  Ingalls,  17;   Clara  Mellor, 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  427 

18;  John  Martin,  19;  Edward  Underhill,  18;  Willie  Pen- 
nell,  17;  David  Chambers,  18;  John  Dietrich,  18;  Eva 
Mitchell,  18  ;  Hattie  Mellefont,  17  ;  Clara  Hurd,  17  ;  Amelia 
Betts,  18;  Howard  Rich,  17;  Josie  Bayer,  18;  N.  Summer- 
ville,  17;  Henry  Borland,  19;  Charles  Imhold,  17. 

Third  Grade — Laura  Bruce,  15  ;  Annie  Bell,  14;  Fred- 
erick Myers,  16;  Emma  Crowther,  16;  Agnes  Lankester, 
15;  Annie  Higgins,  15;  M.  Wellinghausen,  14;  Martha 
Haslett,  15  ;  Eddie  Simmonds,  14;  James  Moshier,  — ;  Lau- 
ra Simmonds,  15  ;  Gertrude  Laforge,  16,  Jennie  Back,  16; 
Nellie  Perry,  14;  Minnie  Eisenhut,  14;  Grace  Pennell,  16; 
Louise  Henf,  14;  Maggie  Dietrich,  15  ;  Richard  Gabriel,  16. 

Primary  Department,  Honorable  Mention  —  Frank 
Hyde,  Bertha  Lent,  Eva  Benson,  Cornelia  Cobb,  Barbara 
Kruppenbacher,  Maud  Gardiner,  Emma  Oakley,  Ellery 
Rich,  Robert  Pennell,  Willie  Bruce,  Dora  Underbill,  Grace 
Borland,  Marie  Kruppenbacher,  Frank  Gardiner,  Esther 
Pennell,  Maud  Moshier,  Fannie  Higgins,  Lois  Dunero. 

The  church  was  crowded  on  Thursday  evening,  De- 
cember 30,  1886,  when  the  Sunday-school  assembled  to  cele- 
brate the  Christmas  festival.  The  exercises  began  at  seven 
o'clock  under  the  direction  of  the  rector,  the  Rev.  August 
Ulmann.     The  programme  was  as  follows : 

Carol Lo,  He  Comes  !  Jehovah  Jesus. 

Lord's  Prayer  and  Collects  and  Scripture. 

Carol Hark  !  a  Burst  of  Heavenly  Music. 

Address. 
Carol     -      While  Shepherds  Watched  Their  Flocks  by  Night. 

Scripture. 
Carol  -     -     .     -     -    Hark  !  the  Hosts  of  Heaven  Are  Singing. 

Reading  of  Honor  Roll  and  Address. 
Carol     -     -    Holy  Night,  Peaceful  Night — By  Primary  Depart- 
ment. 
Carol      -     -    -     -  Our  Christmas  Tree  is  Decked  Once  More. 
Distribution  of  Presents. 

Carol Farewell  to  Thee,  O  Christmas  Tree. 

Collects  and  Benediction. 

The  honor  roll  showed  the  following  names  : 
First  Grade,  16 — Annie   Bell,  Lillian   Fisher,   Marion 
Fisher,  Hattie  Mellefont,  Sarah  Mellor,  Marie  White,  Har- 
ry Borland. 


428  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Honorable  Mention — Jennie  Back,  Eva  Black,  Gracie 
Borland,  Jennie  Borland,  Susie  Williams,  Fr.  Bruce,  Willie 
Bruce,  Raffaelle  Cobb,  Jr.,  Alexander  Cook,  James  Moshier, 
Neville  Williams. 

Second  Grade,  15 — Amelia  Betts,  Emma  Blair,  Susie 
Ingalls,  Frederike  Meyers,  Sadie  Simmonds,  Anna  White, 
Millie  White,  Lena  Weisendanger,  Willie  Hyde,  Cogan 
Marran,  Charles  Mellefont,  Eddie  Simmonds,  James  Van 
Varick. 

Third  Grade,  14 — Sadie  Borland,  Lena  Dahn,  Ida  Hol- 
bertson,  Julia  Kerling,  Eva  Mickle,  Susie  Tyrrell,  Bella 
Weisendanger,  Josie  Bayer,  Charles  Imhold. 

A  very  interesting  and  impressive  service  was  held  in 
this  church  on  Friday  evening,  May  18,  1888,  being  the 
dedication  of  two  circles  of  the  King's  Daughters.  The 
church  was  well  filled,  mostly  with  the  members  of  the  sis- 
terhood of  the  King's  Daughters,  who  all  joined  heartily  in 
the  service  and  listened  with  the  closest  attention. 

The  service  commenced  with  the  singing  of  the  hymn, 
"The  church's  one  foundation  is  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord," 
and  then  the  rector,  the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  led  in  prayer 
and  the  versicles.  Psalms  45  and  144  were  read,  followed 
by  the  lesson  from  St.  Luke  10 :  21-42.  The  Benedicite  was 
sung  and  the  Creed  and  Collects  were  recited.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  hymn  commencing,'  "  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee," 
and  after  that  Mrs.  F.  Bottome,  the  President  of  the  King's 
Daughters,  made  an  address. 

Mrs.  Bottome's  address,  which  was  the  result  of  the  in- 
spiration found  in  the  13th,  14th  and  15th  verses  of  the  45th 
Psalm,  awakened  deep  interest. 

The  selection  from  the  oratorio  of  "The  Messiah"  be- 
ginning, "  He  shall  feed  His  Flock,"  was  impressively  ren- 
dered by  Mrs.  Dimock.  The  rector  made  a  few  appropriate 
remarks  and  then  the  King's  Daughters,  kneeling  at  the 
chancel  rail,  received  each  her  little  silver  cross,  the  badge 
of  the  order.  Twenty-one  were  thus  dedicated  to  the  work 
of  the  Great  King. 

The  service  was  brought  to  a  close  by  singing  the 
hymn,  "  Sun  of  my  soul,  thou  Saviour  dear,"  and  by  the 
blessing  pronounced  by  the  rector.     The  occasion  will  long 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  429 

be  remembered  by  all  who  had  the  privilege  of  being  pres- 
ent, and  proved  an  impulse  and  a  stimulus  for  good  to  many 
hearts. 

Since  that  date  two  other  circles  have  been  formed, 
which  makes  four  circles  of  King's  Daughters  connected 
with  this  school — the  "  Remembering  Circle,"  of  which 
Mrs.  A.  E.  C.  Hyde  is  the  President,  and  whose  motto  is 
"  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth  ;" 
the  "  Little  Gleaners  Circle,"  of  which  Miss  Marion  Hyde  is 
President ;  "  The  Rector's  Ten,"  of  which  Mrs.  August  Ul- 
mann  was  elected  President ;  "  The  Faithful  Ten,"  of  which 
Mrs.  Robert  Edgar  is  President.  These  circles  contributed 
$150  in  1888  towards  paying  off  the  church  debt  and  helped 
in  many  ways  the  poor  and  needy. 

Every  Sunday  afternoon  at  five  o'clock  one  of  the  cir- 
cles goes  to  St.  John's  Riverside  Hospital  and  furnishes  the 
music  for  a  service  which  has  been  held  there  for  many 
years  by  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  who  was  also  assisted  by 
the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  who  officiated  when  Mr.  Cobb  was 
necessarily  absent.  The  King's  Daughters  go  about  the 
wards  and  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  patients  by  kind  and 
encouraging  words  and  gifts  of  flowers  and  fruit. 

Mrs,  E.  Edgar  has  charge  of  a  Bible-class  for  young  la- 
dies and  Mr.  W.  Gaul  a  Bible-class  for  young  men,  both  of 
which  meet  in  the  church,  there  being  no  room  for  them  in 
the  parish  house. 

Under  the  leadership  of  the  superintendent,  the  Rev. 
August  Ulmann,  the  school  steadily  increased  in  numbers 
and  under  his  care  and  gtiidance  met  with  marked  success  in 
all  the  departments  of  work.  He  was  especially  devoted  to 
his  work.  The  little  children  gathered  around  him,  for 
whom  he  always  had  a  kind  message  and  some  new 
thought,  not  only  for  those  in  the  Sunday-school,  but  also 
for  those  in  the  pews  at  the  church  service. 

According  to  the  revised  list,  1890,  the  school  numbered 
295  scholars,  thirty-two  teachers,  and  five  officers.  It  is  self- 
supporting.  The  weekly  offerings  are  sufficient  not  only 
for  the  lesson  leaflets  and  teachers'  helps,  but  have  procured 
a  steady  increase  of  the  number  of  books  in  the  library. 
By  their  special  offering  at  Easter  the  teachers  and  scholars 


430  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

have  materially  helped  the  church  in  paying  off  its  mort- 
gage and  lately  have  contributed  largely  for  missions. 

For  some  years  the  International  Lessons  were  used, 
but  for  reasons  which  made  it  necessary  a  change  was  made 
and  now  the  leaflets  are  used  which  contain  the  uniform 
lessons  prepared  by  the  joint  diocesan  committee  for  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  For  all  more  important  re- 
ligious exercises  the  Prayer  Book  is  used,  and  for  the 
music — except  Christmas  and  Easter  carols — the  Church 
Hymnal  is  the  only  book  in  use. 

The  contributions  of  the  school  for  the  year  1888  were 
$244  74,  of  which  a  part  was  given  by  friends  for  the  Christ- 
mas festival;  in  1889,  $301  49. 

Miss  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb  was  the  first  teacher  of  the 
infant  class  of  this  school.  She  was  succeeded  by  Miss 
Anna  Terese  Bate,  who  took  charge  of  it  for  a  brief  season, 
and  was  followed  by  Miss  Sarah  Higginbotham.  Its  next 
teacher  was  Miss  Lizzie  Borland,  who  was  followed  by  Miss 
Mary  Irwin  (now  Mrs.  John  H.  Crowther).  These  teachers 
all  took  a  deep  interest  in  their  work  and  in  the  children  of 
their  charge.  Their  labors  were  abundantly  rewarded  by 
the  affectionate  regard  of  their  scholars.  In  March,  1875, 
John  Brewster  Hyde,  an  interesting  and  very  lovable  little 
boy,  was  suddenly  called  from  this  class  to  enter  that 
"school  where  Christ  himself  doth  rule." 

At  present  there  is  no  infant  class  proper  where  one  or 
two  teachers  endeavor  to  control  and  instruct  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  younger  scholars.  The  little  ones  are  divided 
into  small  classes.  The  result  of  this  plan,  so  far  as  disci- 
pline and  actual  instruction  are  concerned,  has  been  most 
gratifying.  This  department  meets  in  the  parish  house  in 
the  rear  of  the  church. 

The  record  book  of  this  school  shows  no  more  efficient 
and  devoted  service  rendered  by  its  teachers  than  that  of 
Miss  Minnie  Putnam  Cobb  and  Miss  Sarah  J.  Beebe,  who 
are  now  where  the  splendor  of  the  white-robed  multitude  is 
seen,  and  where  are  the  music  and  the  worship  and  the  peace 
and  the  rest  of  the  redeemed,  in  the  "  Palace  of  the  King." 

The  children  of  this  Sunday-school,  with  others  from 
St.    Paul's  Sunday-school,  made  a  delightful  excursion  up 


CHRIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  43I 

the  Hudson  River  a  few  miles  beyond  West  Point,  by  the 
steamer  "Governor  Safford,"  on  Friday,  June  28,  1889. 

Mrs.  A.  E.  C.  Hyde  had  charge  of  one  of  the  largest 
Bible-classes  in  the  school,  her  second  class  during  her  ten 
years'  connection  with  the  school,  during  which  time  she 
was  never  absent  from  her  class  except  on  account  of  an  ill- 
ness of  a  few  months,  when  her  place  was  supplied  by  Miss 
Sarah  J,  Bebee.  Her  class  was  composed  of  young  ladies 
who  have  grown  up  to  womanhood  while  under  her  care, 
and  two  of  whom  have  recently  become  teachers  in  the 
Sunday-school.  Mrs.  Hyde  for  her  faithful  and  continuous 
service  in  this  school  is  enrolled  on  the  honorary  list  of 
Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

The  Superintendents  of  this  school  have  been  :  Samuel 
Emmet  Getty,  who  was  its  first,  elected  July  14,  1872,  Theo- 
dore Silkman,  John  B.  Copcutt,  the  Rev,  S.  S.  Lewis,  the 
Rev.  Charles  S.  Ferris,  the  Rev.  Lyman  Cobb,  Jr.,  the  Rev. 
Robert  S.  Carlin,  and  the  Rev.  August  Ulmann,  who  took 
charge  of  the  school  the  first  Sunday  in  May,  1885. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are  :  Superintendent, 
the  Rev.  E.  S.  Widdemer;  Assistant  Superintendent,  Raf- 
faelle  Cobb  ;  Secretary,  William  Roberts  ;  Treasurer,  Raf- 
faelle  Cobb,  Jr.  *  Librarians,  Fred.  J.  Warren,  Charles  Mes- 
sitter,  C.  W.  Hanson.  Teacher  of  young  ladies'  Bible-class, 
Mrs.  Irene  W.  Hartt.  Teacher  of  young  men's  Bible-class, 
Henry  Gecox. 

Teachers  in  the  Adult  Department :  Mrs.  Minnie  Banker, 
Miss  Sedwell  W.  Batten,  Miss  Jennie  N.  Jenkins,  Miss  Mary 
A.  Turley,  Mrs.  Isabelle  Karr,  Miss  Augusta  Revinious, 
Miss  Bertina  Watson,  Mr.  William  Catherson,  Mr.  RafEaelle 
Cobb,  Jr.,  Miss  Emma  Crowther,  Mrs.  Carrie  Ackert,  Mr. 
John  Brazier. 

Primary  Department :  Superintendent,  Lewis  H. 
Haight.  Teachers — Mrs.  J.  H.  Rein,  Miss  Emma  Archerd, 
Miss  Edna  Stengel,  Miss  Lillie  B.  Taylor,  Miss  Emma 
lies,  Miss  Lizzie  Jenkins,  Mrs.  L.  H.  Haight. 

Present  number  scholars  enrolled,  246 ;  teachers  and 
officers,  29.  Sunday-school  offering  September,  1890,  $287- 
99.     Number  books  in  library,  300. 

*  Since  deceased. 


432  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

ST.  JOSEPH'S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH   AND   PARISH- 
SCHOOLS.* 

St.  Joseph's  Church  was  divided  from  St.  Mary's  in 
1 87 1.  The  old  church  had  become  crowded,  and  the  dis- 
tance from  the  north  part  of  the  village  was  considerable. 
Some  of  the  people  desired  that  a  new  parish  might  be  set 
off  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ashburton  Avenue.  The  Arch- 
bishop approved  of  this,  and  in  June,  1871,  the  Rev.  Albert 
A.  Lings,  until  then  assistant  at  St.  Mary's,  was  made  pas- 
tor of  the  new  parish  of  St.  Joseph.  Early  in  July  he  hired 
the  Assembly  Room  of  Public  School  No.  6  for  the  Satur- 
day evening  and  Sunday  services  of  the  new  church. 

In  July  Father  Lings  bought  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
the  church,  1 1 5  feet  on  the  north  side  of  Ashburton  Ave- 
nue and  2 1 7  feet  on  the  east  side  of  St.  Joseph  Avenue,  for 
$17,000,  and  in  September  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  brick 
building  45x82  feet,  two  stories  with  basement  and  attic, 
placed  on  the  north  part  of  St.  Joseph  Avenue  front,  and 
designed  ultimately  for  a  schoolhouse,  but  temporarily 
fitted  up  for  a  church,  with  schoolrooms  in  the  upper  story. 
J.  and  G.  Stewart  did  the  mason-work,  and  included  the  fur- 
nishing of  the  church  and  of  the  school.  The  whole  cost 
was  about  $20,000.  The  first  mass  was  said  in  the  new 
building  on  December  8,  1871,  although  it  was  not  finished 
until  the  following  spring. 

The  congregation  proved  so  large  that  galleries  were 
put  up  before  the  church  was  completed,  and  it  had  eighty- 
six  pews  on  the  ground  floor,  seating  420  persons,  and 
thirty-six  pews  in  the  galleries,  seating  1 80.  making  a  total 
of  600  seats.  Father  Lings  was  liberally  supported  in  his 
work  by  the  contributions  not  only  of  his  own  people,  but 
also  of  his  Protestant  neighbors. 

*  Most  of  the  facts  in  this  chapter  are  reprinted  by  kind  permission  of 
the  author,  Thomas  C.  Cornell,  from  the  Catholic  Home  Almanac  of  1887. 


ST.    JOSEPH  S    ROMAN-CATHOLIC    CHURCH.  433 

During-  1886  the  parish  increased  so  that  it  was  no 
longer  possible  to  defer  the  building  of  the  new  church. 
The  school,  too,  had  become  so  large  that  it  was  necessary 
to  give  the  whole  building  to  its  original  purpose.  The 
digging  out  of  the  cellar  of  the  new  church  was  beg-un  on 
Washington's  Birthday,  1886.  The  Sunday  previous  it  had 
been  announced  that  ground  would  be  broken,  and  on  that 
day  over  200  men,  with  picks  and  shovels,  gathered  on  the 
ground  and  began  the  work.  With  such  enthusiasm  did 
they  go  to  work  and  persevere  that  it  was  nearly  all  done 
by  their  efforts. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  Church  of  St.  Joseph's 
was  accordingly  laid  on  the  i6th  day  of  May,  1886,  on  the 
feast  of  the  patronage  of  St.  Joseph,  by  Archbishop  Corri- 
rigan.  Fully  4,000  people  climbed  the  steep  streets  Sun- 
day to  witness  the  ceremonies. 

The  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Father  Dough- 
erty, of  Kingston,  after  which  the  high  mass  was  celebra- 
ted in  the  open  air  by  the  Rev.  Father  Byron,  assisted  by 
Fathers  Coffey  and  Eagan  as  deacon  and  sub-deacon.  The 
ceremonies  were  concluded  with  the  benediction  by  the 
Archbishop. 

The  church  is  in  the  early  Gothic  style,  built  of  red 
brick  with  terra  cotta  trimmings.  It  is  150  feet  long  and 
71  feet  high,  and  fronts  on  Ashburton  Avenue,  one  of  the 
most  elevated  positions  in  town,  commanding  an  extensive- 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  and  Hudson  River. 

The  walls  are  twenty-five  feet  high,  surmounted  b}^  a 
Gothic  roof,  and  the  front,  ornamented  by  a  steeple,  when 
completed,  will  be  174  feet  high. 

The  splendid  doors,  the  grand  Catherine-wheel  win- 
dow, the  small  side  towers,  and  the  more  than  life-size 
statue  of  St.  Joseph,  make  the  wide  frontage  of  sixty-five 
feet  very  imposing. 

The  interior  is  finished  in  sage  green  and  heliotrope 
colors,  with  pillars  and  ornamental  cornices  of  gold.  The 
middle  aisle  may  be  justly  called  an  architectural  master- 
piece. The  vaulted  ceiling,  the  arch  of  which  is  sixty-five 
feet  from  the  floor,  rising  on  slender  columns,  is  very  impo- 
sing. On  either  side  of  the  sanctuary  are  the  altars  of  the 
28 


434  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  Joseph,  of  wood,  in  the  Gothic  style- 
There  are  many  beautiful  windows,  the  work  of  F.  H.  Zet- 
tler,  proprietor  of  the  Royal  Bavarian  Art  Institute,  Mu- 
nich. 

The  church  is  furnished  with  antique  oak  pews,  and 
there  are  confessionals  for  Rev.  A.  A.  Lings,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Coffey,  and  Rev.  H.  F.  Zavier. 

The  architect  was  William  Schickel,  New  York.  The 
chief  contractors  were  Anthony  Imhoff  and  Denis  Murphy. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  main  floor  is  1 1 50,  and  in 
addition  to  this  number,  the  gallery  at  the  back  of  the 
church  will  accommodate  250. 

Sunday,  January  29,  1888,  occurred  the  solemn  and 
impressive  exercises  of  the  dedication  of  the  new  church 
building  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Yonkers. 

The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rt.  Rev.  T.  S.  Preston, 
V.  G.,  from  Eph.  4:4,  5,6,"  One  spirit,  one  Lord,  one  faith, 
one  baptism,  one  God  and  Father  of  all." 

All  the  services  were  conducted  in  Latin  but  the  ser- 
mon, which  was  well  pronounced  in  good  modern  English. 

The  old  house  on  St.  Joseph's  property  at  the  time  of 
the  purchase  was  made  the  parochial  residence  for  some 
years,  but  was  not  suitable  for  the  purpose  and  was  too  old 
to  be  worth  repairs,  and  in  1877-78  a  new  residence  of  brick 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,500,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
lot,  fronting  on  Ashburton  and  vSt.  Joseph  Avenues. 

The  property  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  was  purchased  in 
the  name  of  the  Archbishop,  but  in  accordance  with  his 
wish  the  church  was  incorporated  in  1876  under  the  gen- 
eral law,  and  all  the  property  was  vested  in  the  corporation. 
The  original  trustees  were  Cardinal  McCloskey,  the  Arch- 
bishop, the  Right  Rev.  Monsignor  Ouinn,  Vicar-General, 
the  Rev.  Albert  A.  Lings,  pastor. 

ST.    JOSEPH'S   PARISH    SCHOOLS 

were  opened  in  the  class-rooms  over  the  church  under  lay- 
teachers  in  September,  1872,  with  about  300  pupils.  The 
school  was  discontinued  at  the  end  of  June,  1879,  ^^^^  i^ 
September,  1881,  it  was  reopened  under  the  charge  of  the 
Sisters  of  Charity,  for  whose  use  Father  Lings  had  bought 


ST.   JOSEPH  S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  435 

the  adjoining  house  and  lot  north  of  the  school,  and  fitted 
it  up  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000.  The  sisters  have  the  boys' 
school  as  well  as  the  girls',  but  in  separate  class-rooms,  with 
separate  yards  and  entrances. 

Sister  Stephen,  of  the  Academy  of  St.  Aloysius,  who 
had  for  several  years  had  charge  of  St.  Joseph's  Sunday- 
school,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  new  house  at  St.  Joseph's, 
where  she  now  has  eight  assistant  sisters  besides  the  lay 
assistance  in  the  school. 

In  the  autumn  of  1882  the  school  numbered  203  boys 
and  281  girls.  Total,  484.  The  registered  number  for  the 
year  1887  was  680.  The  number  in  attendance  in  Septem- 
ber, 1889,  was  900. 

Father  Lings  estimated  the  number  of  people  belong- 
ing to  St.  Joseph's,  including  children,  January  i,  1887, 
about  4,000. 

The  record  of  the  marriages  and  baptisms  in  this 
church  during  the  following  years  reads  thus :  Baptisms — 
1882,  120;  1883,  148;  1884,  176;  1885,  162.  Marriages— ^ 
1882,46;   1883,36;   1884,36;  1885,45. 

The  census  in  1 889  of  the  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion, taken  by  the  priests  attached  to  the  church  them- 
selves, showed  the  large  number  of  5,857  souls. 

The  attendance  at  the  various  masses  is  4,000. 

St.  Joseph's  has  several  societies  and  sodalities.  The 
Child  of  Mary,  the  Sacred  Heart  Society,  the  Sodality  of  the 
Holy  Angels,  the  Holy  Infancy  Sodality  for  boys,  and  an- 
other for  girls,  the  St.  Aloysius  Society  of  boys,  the  Tem- 
perance Society,  and  the  Society  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul ; 
but  the  last  named  is  not  confined  to  St.  Joseph's  parish. 
St.  Joseph's  Church  has  also  a  Young  Men's  Catholic  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Holy  Name  Society  of  St.  Joseph's. 

ST.   JOSEPH'S   CLERGY. 

The  work  of  the  parish  has  made  necessary  the  servi- 
ces of  an  assistant  priest  for  several  years,  and  the  Rev. 
Anthony  MoUoy  has  occupied  the  position  since  November, 
1876,  and  was  acting  pastor,  with  the  Rev.  Michael  Mont- 
gomery as  assistant,  during  the  absence  of  Father  Lings  in 
1 88 1  in  Europe,  Egypt,  and  Palestine.     Before  Father  Mol- 


436  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

loy,  the  Rev.  Father  Shadier,  now  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  Charleston,  S.  C,  was  assistant  of  Father  Lings  for 
about  three  years. 

Father  Lings  was  born  at  Baden  in  1844.  He  made 
his  theological  studies  in  the  seminary  at  Troy,  and  was 
ordained  by  Bishop  Bacon,  of  Portland,  on  the  i6th  of  June, 
1867,  and  sent  as  assistant  to  St.  Michael's  Church,  New 
York,  where  he  remained  but  three  months,  when  he  was 
sent  as  assistant  at  St.  Mary's,  Yonkers,  in  September,  1 867, 
and  in  June,  1871,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  new  parish  of 
St.  Joseph's,  of  which  he  is  now  in  the  nineteenth  year  of 
his  pastorate,  January,  1890. 

The  erection  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  largely  due 
to  his  tireless  energy  and  perseverance. 

Father  Lings  is  assisted  in  his  labors  as  the  head  of 
St.  Joseph's  Church  by  Rev.  Fathers  Henry  Xavier  and 
John  F.  Coffey. 

The  choir  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  is  composed  as  fol- 
lows :  Prof.  J.  J.  Kaiser,  organist  and  director.  Chorus  of 
twenty  voices. 

The  sexton  is  John  A.  Weis. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  following  is  from  a  printed  report  of  the  school  in 
the  centennial  year,  1876: 

"  The  flourishing  Roman-catholic  Sunday-school  con- 
nected with  St.  Joseph's  Church,  the  corner  of  Oakhill  and 
Ashburton  Avenues,  is  under  the  supervision  of  Father  A. 
A.  Lings,  and  has  a  large  attendance. 

The  following  are  the  statistics  for  the  past  year: 
Officers,  I  ;  teachers,  35  ;  pupils  on  register,  girls  350,  boys 
230  ;  average  attendance,  girls  300,  boys  200 ;  number  in 
primary  department,  20.     Total  number  of  pupils,  600. 

"  Receipts,  $130;  expenditures,  $75. 

"  The  Sunday-school  in  1887  t^ad  two  sessions  a  day. 

"  Instructions  explanatory  of  the  Church  Catechism 
were  given. 

"The  Catholic  hymn-book  was  used,  and  the  Sunday- 
school  paper  distributed  was  '  The  Young  Catholic' 

"  The  number  of  pupils  at  that  date  was  750. 


ST.   JOSEPH'S   ROMAN-CATHOLIC   CHURCH.  437 

"The  number  reported  in  the  beginning  of  1890  was 
900. 

"  The  school  at  that  date  was  in  charge  of  Sister  M. 
Stephens  and  eleven  assistant  sisters,  besides  five  lay 
assistants. 

"  We  have  been  informed  at  this  writing — November, 
1890 — that  the  regular  session  of  the  Sunday-school  is  not 
held,  but  a  short  morning  and  afternoon  service  for  the 
children  is  held,  which  is  at  present  conducted  by  Father 
Lings  and  his  assistants." 


438  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

•CHAPTER   XX. 

DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    AND     SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

"  On  the  east  side  of  the  city  of  Yonkers,  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  from  the  City  Hall,  is  an  eminence  called  Nodine 
Hill,  or  Viewville.  From  the  brow  of  this  hill  three  val- 
leys outspread  their  rival  glories,  and  each  has  a  charm  of 
its  own.  The  commanding  hill  has  doubtless  suggested 
the  name  Viewville.  Towards  the  north  lies  the  tranquil 
vale  of  the  winding  Nepperhan — '  rapid  running  water.' 
Eastward  are  the  blue  hills  of  Long  Island,  against  which 
glide  the  glistening  sails  of  ships,  oceanward  or  homeward 
bound.  Nearer,  the  historic  hills  where  a  patriot  army  has 
left  its  footprints  uplift  their  sombre  forests  and  smiling' 
fields.  Tibbets  Brook  goes  seaward  between  these  heights 
and  Nodine  Hill.  To  the  west  the  superb  valley  of  the 
Hudson  outspreads  its  purple  glories.  Sloops  and  yachts 
and  proud  steamers  sail  into  sight  from  behind  the  hills, 
and  miles  of  the  massive  Palisades  stand  out  against  the 
western  horizon.  In  the  south  is  seen  in  the  distance 
Bartholdi's  statue  of  Liberty,  and  at  night  the  southern  sky 
reflects  the  gleams  of  a  thousand  city  lamps,  while  the 
many  colored  lights  of  sloops  and  steamers,  and  bright  rays 
from  the  windows  of  happy  Yonkers  homes,  sparkle  like 
stars." 

On  the  western  slope  of  this  beautiful  hill  stands 
the  Day  spring  Presbyterian  Church,  its  surroundings  call- 
ing to  remembrance  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  "  Beautiful 
for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is  Mt.  Zion,"  etc. 
The  church  on  this  beautiful  hill  is  the  outgrowth  of  cot- 
tage prayer-meetings. 

Between  1855  ^^^  i860  prayer-meetings  were  held  at 
the  house  of    Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Berrian.*     Cottage  prayer- 

*  The  following  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Berrian  was  written  by 
her  pastor,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison  :  "Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Berrian  died  Satur- 
day morning,  February  11,  1888.  Her  husband,  John  Devoe  Berrian,  died 
many  years  ago  while  the  family  lived  at  Mosholu.     Forty-three  years  ago 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  439 

meeting's  were  also  held  at  the  houses  of  John  Craft,  Clark 
Nodine,  Solomon  Corsa,  Dewitt  Taylor,  Messrs.  Eddy, 
Alexander,  Banks,  Kelly,  Ferguson,  Mottram,  and  others. 
The  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev. 
Dr.  Sawyer,  led  some  of  the  meetings  at  the  home  of  Mrs. 
L.  M.  Cutbill.  For  many  years  these  cottage  meetings 
were  held,  until  at  last  the  rooms  in  private  houses  could 
not  accommodate  those  who  desired  to  attend.  The  older 
citizens  speak  with  gratitude  of  the  labors  of  Rev.  Robert 
Kirkwood,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  who,  in  the  spring 
of  1857,  began  holding  open-air  services  in  the  then  sparsely 
settled  region  in  which  the  church  now  prosecutes  its  work  ; 
and  Rev.  Pelatiah  Ward,  who  shortly  afterward  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Methodist  Church, 
joined  Mr.  Kirkwood  *  in  his  labors. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ward  served  the  First  ]\Iethodist  Church  as 
its  pastor  in  1859  ^^^  ^860.  During  his  brief  pastorate  the 
church  received  a  large  ingathering  of  precious  souls. 
During  the  war  for  the  Union  he  was  appointed  captain 

the  widowed  mother  removed  with  her  family  to  Nodine  Hill,  Yonkers. 
Only  one  resident  has  lived  on  the  hill  longer  than  this  aged  mother.  So 
many  outside  of  her  own  family  circle  have  rejoiced  in  her  motherly  kind- 
ness and  gentleness,  that  with  grateful  affection  all  have  called  her  Grand- 
ma Berrian.  She  was  indeed  a  mother  in  Israel.  For  many  years  her 
name  was  on  the  roll  of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  and  for  many  years 
the  neighborhood  prayer-meetings  were  held  at  her  house.  In  July,  1882, 
she  became  a  member  of  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church,  enrolling 
her  name  among  those  of  her  children  and  grandchildren.  Her  life  was 
a  benediction,  her  death  an  entering  into  rest." 

*  Rev.  Robert  Kirkwood — the  writer's  father — was  born  in  Scotland 
and  educated  in  the  University  of  Glasgow  ;  was  led  by  the  Spirit  to  labor 
in  America,  first  in  New  York  and  later  in  the  mission-fields  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  two  churches  and  a  number  of  Sunday-schools 
were  organized  under  his  labors.  The  spiritual  needs  of  the  world  being 
uppermost  in  his  mind,  his  influence  was  always  felt  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  After  a  long  and  useful  life  as  pastor,  missionary,  and 
author,  this  servant  of  God  was  removed  to  the  upper  sanctuary  in  1866. 
His  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church 
on  Wednesday  afternoon,  August  28,  1866.  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter,  the 
pastor,  preached  the  sermon  from  these  words  :  "Thou  shalt  come  to  thy 
grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  his  season."  Job 
5:26.  Rev.  David  Cole,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church,  Yon- 
kers, and  Rev.  Darius  Richmond  Brewer,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Yon- 
kers, also  took  part  in  the  services.  - 


440  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

of  a  company  which  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing, and  afterwards  chaplain  of  the  regiment  to  which 
this  company  was  attached.  At  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run  two  of  the  color-bearers  of  the  regiment  were  shot 
and  instantly  killed.  As  the  second  one  fell  Mr.  Ward 
sprang  forward  and  seizing  the  flag  waved  it  and  urged 
the  regiment  forward.  In  so  doing  he  received  five 
wounds  which  in  a  few  hours  resulted  in  his  death.  Rev. 
Mr.  Ward  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence  and  genial, 
earnest  manner.  His  memory  has  left  the  most  kindly 
impression  on  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  him  and  with 
whom  he  was  associated. 

In  1864,  Judge  T.  Astley  Atkins,  John  N.  Stearns,  and 
Britton  Richardson,  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
invited  John  McCoy,  who  then  lived  in  New  York,  to  be- 
come city  missionary  in  Yonkers.  Mr.  McCoy  accepted 
their  invitation  and  was  at  work  in  that  capacity  when  a 
Yonkers  home  missionary  society  was  organized  in  the 
lecture-room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  October  4, 
1865. 

In  this  society  were  represented  seven  churches — two 
Presbyterian  (First  and  Westminster),  two  Episcopalian 
(St.  John's  and  St.  Paul's),  one  Reformed  (Reformed  of 
Yonkers),  one  Baptist  (Mt.  Olivet),  and  one  Methodist 
(First). 

He  continued  his  work  under  the  auspices  of  that 
society  until  September,  1871. 

During  those  patient  years  of  unheralded  service  his 
kind  face  brightened  many  homes,  and  under  many  roofs 
his  voice  was  heard  in  prayer.  The  sick  man  knew  him, 
and  the  poor  to  whom  he  preached  the  gospel.  His  was  a 
wayside  ministry.  He  conversed  with  thousands  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  and  distributed  many  Bibles  and 
tracts.  Not  a  few  to-day  remember  how  he  counselled 
them  to  keep  the  Sabbath  and  reverence  the  sanctuary. 

The  Yonkers  Home  Missionary  Society  prosecuted  its 
good  work  from  1865  to  September  18,  1871. 

In  1866  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  then 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Carter,  engaged 
Mrs.  Elizabeth   Russell  (now  Mrs.  MacKenzien)  as  Bible- 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  441 

reader.  Mrs.  Russell  organized  a  weekly  prayer-meeting 
which  was  sustained  by  the  Session  and  members  of  the 
Westminster  Church.  In  1867,  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Mudge 
(now  Rev.  Dr.  Mudge)  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Church, 
took  charge  of  the  meetings  and  for  several  years  was 
never  absent  except  when  called  away  by  pres.sing  duties. 
The  meeting  was  held  on  Friday  evening  and  was  the  only 
service  on  the  hill  at  that  time.  It  was  almost  always  held 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Corsa.  Dr.  J.  H.  Pooley,  A.  O.  Kirk- 
wood,  Duncan  C.  Ralston,  James  Biggerstaff,  and  James  E. 
Goddard  (the  latter  had  formerly  been  an  elder  in  the 
Westminster  Church,  but  was  then  a  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church),  took  great  interest  in  this  meeting 
and  rendered  earnest  and  faithful  service.  These  were 
years  of  constant  blessing  on  the  overflowing  meetings,  and 
so  abundant  were  the  fruits  that,  at  one  time,  upwards  of 
forty  therefrom  were  in  the  communion  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Church. 

At  this  time  there  were  fifty-two  houses  on  the  hill, 
"  one  for  each  Sunday  in  the  year."  In  1868-69,  A.  V.  Witt- 
meyer,  a  student  in  Union  Theological  Seminary,  was  also 
at  work  in  Yonkers  under  the  direction  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society.  The  Yonkers  Home  Missionary  Society 
expended  from  $600  to  $1,000  a  year.  In  September,  1871, 
this  society  was  discontinued. 

In  1 870,  owing  to  the  exception  taken  to  the  Yonkers 
Home  Mission  by  some  of  the  churches  that  had  no  weekly 
meeting  and  no  result  to  show,  the  Session  of  the  West- 
minster Church  having  so  much  on  their  hands  (sustaining 
at  that  time  five  meetings  in  different  parts  of  the  town), 
offered  to  transfer  this  meeting  to  the  care  of  the  mission, 
there  being  an  understanding  with  some  of  the  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  actively  engaged  in  mis- 
sion work  that  they  would  be  responsible  for  its  contin- 
uance and  support. 

When  the  Yonkers  Home  Missionary  Society  ceased 
to  exist,  the  work  on  Nodine  Hill  came  into  the  hands  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  On  Thursday  evening, 
November  2,  1871,  the  First  Presbyterian  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation was  organized.     The  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  T. 


442  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  Prof.  Henry  M.  Baird,  D.  D.,  Lucius 
E.  Clark,  James  E.  Goddard,  William  Allen  Butler,  Rich- 
ard Wynkoop,  William  C.  Foote,  Charles  Lockwood,  and 
Augustus  Cruikshank  participated  in  that  meeting. 

William  Allen  Butler  submitted  a  plan  of  organization, 
which  was  adopted.  The  executive  committee  consisted 
of  twelve  members,  six  of  whom  were  the  elders  of  the 
church,  the  pastor  to  be  a  member  of  such  committee  and 
president  of  the  Association.  Among  the  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Association  were  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  Rev. 
Dr.  Baird,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Rand,  Rev.  W.  C.  Foote, 
Charles  Lockwood,  William  Allen  Butler,  H.  M.  Schieffelin, 
Ethan  Flagg,  W.  W.  Law,  William  R.  Mott,  P.  Kelly,  G.  L. 
Morse,  L.  E.  Clark,  J.  W.  Skinner,  Messrs.  Rockwell, 
Holmes,  Gibson,  Wynkoop,  Bogart,  Cochran,  Newell, 
Adams,  Cuthell,  Heermance,  Nichols,  Thompson,  Farnum, 
Dr.  Levi  W.  Flagg,  Johnson,  Olmsted,  Cruikshank,  Par- 
sons, Travis,  Harper,  and  others. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  executive  committee,  held 
in  the  Session  room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  No- 
vember 3,  1 87 1,  there  were  present  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  William 
C.  Foote,  Samuel  D.  Rockwell,  Richard  Wynkoop,  Charles 
Lockwood,  William  Allen  Butler,  William  F.  Cochran, 
Patrick  Kelly,  Ethan  Flagg,  and  William  R.  Mott.  Wil- 
liam Allen  Butler  was  chosen  chairman,  R.  Wynkoop,  sec- 
retary, and  William  R.  Mott,  treasurer.  Messrs.  Lockwood 
and  Kelly  were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  the  field  of 
labor,  Messrs.  Lockwood,  Foote,  and  Skinner,  a  committee 
to  secure  a  missionary,  and  Messrs.  Gibson  and  Mott,  a 
committee  on  finance.  The  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  and 
the  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  were  made  ex- 
officio  members  of  the  last  committee.  The  following  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  this  executive  committee  consider  it 
desirable  to  occupy  Nodine  Hill  as  a  field  of  labor,  and 
that  the  subject  of  that  field  be  made  the  special  order  of 
the  next  meeting. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1 87 1,  Charles  Lockwood  made  an  oral  report  as  to 
the  number  of  families  on  Nodine  Hill.     A  general  and 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  443 

extended  discussion  followed,  after  which  it  was  unani- 
mously 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  executive  com- 
mittee it  is  expedient  to  erect  a  building  suitable  for  public 
worship  upon  Nodine  Hill  at  an  expense  of  not  more  than 
two  thousand  dollars. 

On  November  23,  1871,  the  executive  committee  re- 
ported plans,  specifications,  and  estimates.  They  also  re- 
ported that  a  suitable  site  could  be  obtained  from  Ethan 
Flagg  on  a  lease  for  five  years  with  a  prospect  of  a  grant 
of  land  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  with  the  privilege  of 
the  removal  of  the  building.  December  7,  1871,  the  mis- 
sionary association  held  a  meeting  and  it  was  unanimously 
decided,  by  a  standing  vote,  to  approve  an  appeal  made  by 
the  executive  committee  to  the  congregation  of  the  church 
for  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  towards  the  employ- 
ment of  a  missionary  and  for  the  erection  of  a  chapel. 

Thursday  evening,  January  2,  1872,  George  W.  Francis, 
who  had  volunteered  to  canvass  for  contributions,  reported 
that  $1,332  had  been  subscribed  for  the  work,  and  it  was 
unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  on  location  hereafter  con- 
stitute a  building  committee,  and  be  authorized  to  proceed 
at  once  to  the  erection  of  a  building  on  Nodine  Hill  of 
such  dimensions  as  the  funds  will  warrant. 

On  January  11,  1872,  a  plot  of  land  fifty  feet  by  one 
•hundred,  corner  of  Oliver  Avenue  and  Walnut  Street,  was 
selected  as  the  site  for  the  building.  The  name  selected 
was  the  Dayspring  Chapel,  which  was  suggested  by  Wil- 
liam Allen  Butler,  "and  is  especially  appropriate  for  a  tab- 
ernacle which  is  pitched  towards  the  sunrising,  and  for  a 
house  within  the  walls  of  which  is  preached  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  the  soul's  Dayspring."  This  building,  with  the 
lots,  cost  $5,250,  of  which  $1,250  was  paid  by  the  Dayspring 
congregation  in  April,  1879. 

The  building  committee  were  Messrs.  Ethan  Flagg, 
Charles  Lockwood,  William  Allen  Butler,  and  Patrick 
Kelly. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith  took  a  very  deep  interest  in  the  work 
in  its  inception  and  progress.     William  Halsey  &  Brothers 


444  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

were  the  builders.  The  building  is  a  wooden  structure  of 
Gothic  architecture.  Over  the  main  entrance  a  tablet  with 
the  following  inscription  in  gilt  letters  was  placed  in  1 879 : 
"  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church,  organized  April  21,  1879. 
Ye  shall  keep  my  Sabbaths  and  reverence  my  sanctuary, 
I  am  the  Lord.  Lev.  19:30."  After  the  enlargement  of 
the  chapel  two  additional  entrances  were  made  in  the  right 
and  left  wings  of  the  building.  Over  the  pulpit  are  the 
words,  "  The  Dayspring  from  on  high  hath  visited  us." 
The  Commandments  and  the  Lord's  Prayer  are  in  the  re- 
cess behind  the  pulpit. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  original  building  was  about 
two  hundred.  Between  one  and  two  hundred  persons  con- 
tributed for  the  building  and  furniture  of  the  chapel. 
Messrs.  William  Allen  Butler,  Charles  Lock  wood,  Lucius 
E.  Clark,  H.  M.  Schieffelin,  Ethan  Flagg,  Union  Adams, 
W.  F.  Cochran,  D.  R.  Newell,  R.  W.  Bogart,  and  William 
A.  Gibson  were  among  those  who  gave  the  largest 
amounts. 

The  dedicatory  services  were  held  Sunday,  April  29, 
1872,  at  3  P.  M.,  and  were  opened  with  an  invocation  by 
Rev.  Henry  M.  Baird,  D.  D.  Hymn,  "  I  love  thy  kingdom, 
Lord."  Reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  prayer  by  Rev. 
Henry  M.  Baird,  D.  D.  Historical  statement  by  Charles 
Lockwood.  Hymn,  "All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name." 
Sermon  by  Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  following  hymn,  written 
by  William  Allen  Butler,  was  then  sung : 

Light  of  the  world,  the  shadows  fly, 
The  morning  breaks  with  thy  bright  beam  ; 

Oh  let  the  Dayspring  from  on  high 
With  quickening  ray  our  souls  redeem! 

On  this  our  humble  hillside  shrine 

Thy  seal  of  benediction  set, 
Saviour  of  sinners,  Friend  divine, 

Who  watched  and  wept  on  Olivet. 

Our  open  doors  on  this  glad  day 

Enter,  O  risen,  reigning  Lord; 
Abide  with  us,  thy  love  display. 

Thyself  reveal,  thy  name  record. 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  445 

Here  crown  our  work,  our  worship  own, 
Here  guide  the  souls  that  seek  thy  face, 

And  here  to  contrite  hearts  make  known 
The  riches  of  redeeming  grace. 

So  may  the  dawn  and  Dayspring  here 

Brighten  and  bless  our  upward  way, 
Till  in  thy  likeness  we  appear 

To  share  thy  perfect  endless  day. 

Address  by  William  Allen  Butler,  the  chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  Mis- 
sionary Association.  '  The  text  from  which  Dr.  Smith 
preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  was,  "The  Dayspring- 
from  on  high  hath  visited  us."     Luke  i :  78. 

At  the  time  the  chapel  was  dedicated  there  were  be- 
tween sixty  and  eighty  dwelling-houses  east  of  Walnut 
Street.  In  the  fall  of  1868  the  Missionary  Association  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  engaged  the  services  of 
Mr.  A.  V.  Wittmeyer,*  a  theological  student,  to  visit  the 
families  on  Nodine  Hill  and  to  preach  on  Sunday  after- 
noons. He  officiated  for  about  a  year  very  acceptably,  but 
finding  that  his  work  was  interfering  with  his  studies,  he 
was  compelled  to  relinquish  it.  While  he  was  acting  as 
missionary,  plans  were  drawn  for  building  the  chapel, 
which  would  have  been  constructed  but  for  his  sudden  re- 
moval from  the  city.  After  his  departure  the  meetings  on 
the  hill  at  various  houses  were  discontinued.  But  they 
were  resumed  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  residents  there, 
and  were  held  regularly  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Berrian. 
Evening  services  were  also  held  in  the  chapel. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  the  secretary  engaged  the  services 
of  Mr.  A.  J.  Titsworth,  a  student  in  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  to  visit  the  families  and  to  preach  on  Sunday 
afternoons. 

Rev.  Charles  Elmer  Allison,  also  a  student  of  Union 
Seminary,  succeeded  Mr.  Titsworth.  ]\Ir.  Allison  preached 
his  first  sermon  to  this  people  on  Sunday  afternoon,  April 
2^,  1873,  from  the  text,  "  Oh  that  there  was  such  a  heart  in 
them  that  they  would  fear  me  and  keep  all  my  command- 

*  Rev.  A.  V.  Wittmeyer  is  now  the  rector  of  the  French  Church  Du 
Saint-Esprit,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  in  West  Twenty-second  Street  near 
Fifth  Avenue. 


446 


CHURCH  AND  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 


ments  always,  that  it  might  be  well  with  them  and  with 
their  children  for  ever."     Deut.  5  :  29. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  church  under  Rev.  Mr.  Alli- 
son, and  of  the  Sunday-school  under  the  superintendency 
of  Charles  Lockwood,  made  it  necessary,  in  1875,  to  en- 
large the  building,  and  from  April  1 1  to  May  23  the  chapel 
was  closed  for  enlargement  and  repairs.  At  that  time  two 
wings  were  added,  a  belfry  built,  and  a  bell  hung,  at  an 
expense  of  $2,400.  On  the  bell,  which  is  very  sweet  in  tone, 
is  inscribed  the  text,  "  Let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come." 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN'    CHAPEL, 


William  Allen  Butler,  who  was  on  the  eve  of  the  cele- 
bration of  his  silver  wedding,  sent  to  the  chapel  as  a  thank- 
offering  a  check  for  $1,000.  This  donation,  increased  by 
contributions  from  Messrs.  Lockwood,  Law,  Clark,  Kelly, 
and  others,  enabled  the  executive  committee  of  the  First 
Church  Association  to  enlarge  and  improve  the  house  of 
worship  and  provide  separate  rooms  for  the  Bible  and 
infant  classes.  Previous  to  1878  there  was  but  one  public 
service  in  the  chapel  on  the  Lord's  day.  By  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  building,  accommodation  was  made  to  seat  325 
persons,  which  is  the  present  capacity. 

The  first  communion  vservice  was  held  June  20,  1875. 
Twelve  united  at  that  time  with  the  church,  each  one  re- 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  447 

ceiYing  a  beautiful  copy  of  the  New  Testament  and  Psalms, 
with  the  name  of  member  and  date  of  uniting  with  the 
church  lettered  thereon.  These  books,  the  gift  of  William 
Allen  Butler,  were  designed  to  commemorate  the  first 
communion.  Just  after  the  revival  under  the  labors  of 
Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond,  the  evangelist,  in  1877,  the  member- 
ship was  increased  by  the  addition  of  twenty-two. 

In  January,  1878,  the  afternoon  service  at  the  chapel 
was  discontinued,  and  morning  and  evening  services  were 
regularly  established,  beginning  with  the  first  Sunday  of 
January. 

In  the  spring  of  1879  steps  were  taken  towards  the 
organization  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  on  Nodine  Hill.  It 
was  thought  wise  not  to  organize  until  the  mortgage  on 
the  land  was  paid.  Through  the  self-sacrificing  activity  of 
Miss  Ida  Belknap  and  Miss  M.  E.  Bradford,  who  with  other 
friends  of  the  chapel  had  months  before  held  a  fair  for  the 
benefit  of  the  chapel,  and  who  had  also  given  an  entertain- 
ment in  Washburn  Hall  in  which  they  were  aided  by  the 
young  people  of  the  chapel,  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
was  raised.  With  this  money,  and  subscriptions  from 
people   on    the   hill,    the    mortgage   was    paid    April    13, 

1879. 

From  April,  1872,  to  April,  1879,  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  Association  expended  for  the  work  on  Nodine  Hill 
about  $20,000. 

"  Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Day  spring  Church 
more  than  100,  through  the  services  and  instructions  in  its 
house  of  worship  and  among  the  homes  on  the  east  side  of 
the  city,  were  added  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
which  had  so  generously  fostered  its  early  life.  These 
were  years  of  plenty." 

"  So  rapid  the  growth  of  this  religious  work,  and  so 
continually  '  the  foot  of  the  reaper  trod  on  the  heel  of  the 
sower,'  that  the  friends  of  the  chapel  believed  the  time  had 
come  for  independent  church  life.  Such  belief  and  the 
desire  of  the  east-side  residents  were  expressed  to  the  exec- 
utive committee  of  the  First  Church  Association,  and  on 
April  13,  1879,  the  committee  assembled  to  take  action  in 
the  matter.     William  Allen  Butler  was  in  the  chair,  and  J. 


448  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

W.  Skinner  acted  as  secretary.      The  following  resolution 
was  adopted  unanimously  : 

'"  Whereas,  The  congregation  worshipping  in  Day- 
spring  Chapel  has  paid  off  the  mortgage  on  the  lots  on 
which  the  chapel  stands,  and  now  proposes  to  apply  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Westchester  for  organization  as  a  church  ; 

"  '  Resolved,  That  the  committee  hereby  approves  of 
such  application,  and  in  case  the  same  is  granted  by  the 
Presbytery,  will  recommend  to  the  Missionary  Association 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers  to  vest  in  the 
church  to  be  so  organized  all  its  property  on  Nodine  Hill 
for  the  purposes  of  such  church,  and  so  long  as  it  shall  be 
used  for  a  Presbyterian  church.' 

"  The  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  held  in  Stamford, 
Conn.,  on  April  15.  The  request  of  the  Dayspring  Chapel 
congregation  was  presented.  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  Rev.  John 
Dixon,  W.  C.  Foote,  and  C.  E.  Allison  were  present  from 
Yonkers.  Presbytery  referred  the  application  of  the  chapel 
congregation  to  the  Committee  on  Church  Extension  with 
power. 

"On  Monday,  April  21,  the  Church  Extension  Com- 
mittee  met  at  the  house  of  Charles  Lockwood.  After  due 
inquiry  and  deliberation  the  Committee  decided  to  proceed 
with  the  organization,  and  at  eight  o'clock  Monday  even- 
ing, April  21,  met  the  congregation  in  the  chapel.  The 
members  of  the  Committee  of  Presbytery  who  took  part  in 
the  services  were  Rev.  Dr.  Baird  of  Rye,  Rev.  Dr.  Phraner 
of  Sing  Sing,  Rev.  Mr.  A.  R.  Macoubrey  of  Brewsters,  Ed- 
ward Wells  of  Peekskill. 

"  After  singing  by  the  choir.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Baird, 
D.  D.,  read  the  seventeenth  chapter  of  John.  He  then  an- 
nounced the  action  of  Presbytery,  and  followed  the  report 
with  prayer.  Mr.  Allison  read  the  list  of  names  of  those 
who  had  been  dismissed  from  other  churches  in  order  to 
organize  a  new  church.  As  the  names  were  read  the  mem- 
bers arose.  Eighty-five  were  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  five  from  the  Westminster,  two  from  St.  John's, 
one  from  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Melville,  Long  Island, 
and  one  from  the  Reformed  church.  West  Farms— ninety- 
four  in  all. 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  449 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Phraner,  of  Sing  Sing,  then  proceeded  with 
the  ordination  of  church  officers.  The  following  persons 
were  nominated  as  elders :  William  Bates,  Thomas  Moore, 
and  H.  H.  Ferguson ;  and  for  deacons,  Alfred  Hill,  Samuel 
Granger,  and  William  Smith.  The  voting  was  by  uplifted 
■hands,  and  they  were  all  chosen. 

"After  the  ordination  of  elders  and  deacons  brief  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Foote  and  Charles 
Lock  wood. 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Baird  spoke  of  his  regret  at  the  ab- 
sence of  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  who  had  always  cherished  this 
chapel  work  and  rejoiced  in  its  prosperity.  He  said,  '  You 
are  the  thirty-eighth  church  in  our  Presbytery — the  last 
one  on  the  roll,  but  not  the  least  in  our  affections.'  The 
benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  M.  Baird, 
of  Yonkers. 

"  So  was  consummated  an  organization  for  which  many 
good  men  prayed  and  labored.  So  was  placed  on  the  east- 
ern borders  of  our  city,  towards  the  sun-rising,  a  golden 
candlestick  to  hold  up  for  years  to  come  the  light  of  the 
world,  to  bless  the  present  generation,  and  to  illuminate 
the  hearts  and  lives  of  children  and  children's  children," 

The  next  step  of  this  newly  organized  church  was  to 
call  a  pastor.  Accordingly  on  April  24,  1879,  ^^  a  meeting 
of  the  congregation  held  in  the  Dayspring  Church,  at 
which  Rev.  John  Dixon,  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Yonkers,  presided,  a  unanimous  call 
was  extended  to  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison,  who  had  labored 
so  faithfully  and  so  successfully  for  six  years  as  a  stated 
supply  to  this  people,  to  become  their  pastor.  The  call 
was  accepted,  and  on  Wednesday  evening,  April  30,  1879, 
Mr.  Allison  was  ordained  and  installed  as  their  pastor  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers. 

Rev.  Dr.  Carson  W.  Adams,  of  West  Farms,  the  Mod- 
erator of  the  Westchester  Presbytery,  presided.  The  ser- 
vices were  opened  by  singing  the  hymn,  "  I  love  thy  king- 
dom, Lord."  Rev.  Ezra  F.  Mundy  read  the  fourth  chapter 
of  Nehemiah.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Baird,  D.  D.,  followed 
with  prayer.  The  hymn,  "Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me/' 
was  then  sung.     Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  John  Dixon. 

Church  and  SuDday-school  Work.  2^ 


450  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Rev.  Wilson  Phraner,  D.  D.,  of  Sing  Sing,  preached  the 
sermon  from  the  words,  "  So  built  we  the  wall ;  and  all  the 
wall  was  joined  together  unto  the  half  thereof,  for  the  peo- 
ple had  a  mind  to  work."     Neh.  4 : 6. 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon  Mr.  Allison  came  forward 
and  knelt  before  the  pulpit,  when  the  members  of  the 
Presbytery  and  other  Presbyterian  clergymen  in  the  con- 
gregation placed  their  hands  upon  his  head  while  Rev.  Dr. 
Adams  offered  the  prayer  of  ordination. 

Rev.  RoUin  A.  Sawyer,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Irvington,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pas- 
tor, and  Rev.  J.  Ritchie  Smith,  of  Peekskill,  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  people.  After  the  singing  of  the  doxology, 
Rev.  C.  E.  Allison  pronounced  the  benediction. 

Rev.  Charles  Elmer  Allison,  second  son  of  Isaac  W. 
and  Teresa  A.  Allison,  was  born  at  Slate  Hill,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.  His  mother's  surname  before  her  marriage 
was  Elmer.  Rev.  Mr.  Allison  was  prepared  for  college  at 
Chester  Academy,  Chester,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
graduated  at  Hamilton  College,  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  1870,  and 
at  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  city,  in  1874. 
At  Hamilton  College  he  was  one  of  the  six  Clark  Prize 
Orators  of  his  class.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the  Hudson  Presbytery  in  session  at  Middletown,  N.  Y. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester  in  ses- 
sion at  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  on  the  30th  of  April,  1879.  0°- 
the  same  day  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Dayspring 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Yonkers.  Six  years  before,  while 
he  was  a  student  in  Union  Theological  Seminary,  he  had 
been  placed  in  charge  of  the  Dayspring  Chapel,  which  was 
organized  as  a  church,  April  25,  1879. 

Rev.  Mr.  Allison  has  carried  on  a  successful  ministry  to 
this  church  for  eighteen  years.  He  is  known  as  an  untiring 
and  devoted  worker,  and  his  labors  have  been  abundantly 
blessed,  not  only  in  his  own  church,  but  in  neighboring  fields 
to  which  he  is  frequently  called,  being  especially  acceptable 
in  conducting  evangelistic  services.  He  is  pleasing  and 
entertaining  in  his  addresses  to  the  children.  Rev.  Mi. 
Allison  is  a  zealous  and  active  laborer  in  the  temperance 
cause  and  has  given  to  it  gifts  of  his  time  and  talents.     He 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  45  I 

has  taken  the  high  ground  that  the  Bible  and  the  ballot 
are  the  two  great  weapons  for  the  overthrow  of  intemper- 
ance, and  his  public  utterances  on  this  subjev^t  indicate  that 
he  is  fixed  in  purpose  and  strong  in  faith  in  the  progress 
and  final  triumph  of  temperance  through  moral  and  legal 
measures.  Mr.  Allison  was  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Westchester  in  1886.  He  is  the  author  of  the  "  History 
of  Hamilton  College  "  recently  published.  The  new  Day- 
spring  Presbyterian  Church  edifice  was  erected  under  Rev. 
Mr.  Allison's  pastorate. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected  May  13,  1879. 
It  was  composed  of  Charles  R.  Culver,  Samuel  Berrian, 
Thomas  F.  Hope,  Chas.  H.  Pease,  Joshua  Smith,  Benjamin 
Sutherland,  John  A.  Smith,  Leonard  Mapes,  and  John  Poole. 
The  church  was  incorporated  on  the  same  day. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  First  Church  Association,  held 
November  20,  1879,  the  following  preamble  and  resolution 
were  adopted  : 

Whereas,  The  congregation  worshipping  in  the  Day- 
spring  Church,  having  organized  a  church  which  has  been 
admitted  in  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester,  under  the  name 
of  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church  in  Yonkers,  and 
having  purchased  and  paid  for  the  lots  on  which  the  chapel 
is  situated,  all  of  which  has  been  with  the  approval  of  the 
committee  and  in  anticipation  of  the  action  now  proposed  ; 
it  is  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  committee  recommend  to 
the  Association  that  they  approve  of  and  confirm  what  has 
there  been  done,  and  donate  to  the  said  Dayspring  Presby- 
terian Church  all  the  property  of  the  Association  in  the 
chapel  and  its  appurtenances  and  the  furniture  and  articles 
therein,  the  same  to  be  included  in  the  conveyance  to  be 
made  by  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
pursuant  to  the  right  of  the  trustees  to  make  such  convey- 
ance under  declaration  of  trust  executed  by  Patrick  Kelly 
and  Robert  Harper,  dated  March  14,  1878,  in  liber  946  of 
deeds,  page  306,  in  the  register's  office  in  Westchester 
County.  And  the  committee  recommend  that  such  convey- 
ance be  upon  condition  that  the  property  conveyed  shall  be 
used  only  for  the  purpose  of  a  church  of  the  Presbyterian 


452  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

denomination,  and  that  no  mortgage  shall  ever  be  placed 
on  said  property. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  resolved  to  pay  the  expenses 
necessary  to  complete  the  church  organization,  also  to  meet 
so  far  as  necessary  any  deficiency  in  the  resources  of  the 
Dayspring  Church  for  its  proper  support  for  the  year. 

The  following  statistics  vshow  the  number  added  to  the 
Dayspring  Church  since  its  organization  :  Ninety-four  were 
organized  as  a  church  in  1879 ;  ^  were  added  to  the  church 
in  1879,  7  in  1880,  33  in  1881,  17  in  1882,  8  in  1883,  5  in 
1884,  33  in  1885,  19  in  1886,  38  in  1887,  11  in  1888,  31  in 
1889,  33  in  1890.  The  present  membership,  April,  1891,  is 
268. 

In  December,  1880,  the  church  enjoyed  a  time  of  re- 
freshing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  "  The  silent  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  uplifted  scores  of  weary  and  heavy  laden 
hearts  and  His  sacred  influence  daily  won  many  to  the 
Saviour." 

In  June,  1880,  a  festival  and  floral  fair  was  held  in  large 
tents  in  Flagg's  Grove,  opposite  the  Dayspring  Church,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  church.  The  committee  in  charge  pub- 
lished a  paper  known  as  the  "  Hillside  Echo."  The  profits 
of  the  fair  were  $800. 

In  June,  1882,  the  church  again  enjoyed  gratifying 
evidence  of  the  presence  of  God's  Spirit.  Special  meet- 
ings were  appointed  and  on  Sunday  evening,  June  18,  the 
interest  had  so  deepened  and  widened  that  between  forty 
and  fifty  asked  for  remembrance  in  the  prayers  of  the 
church.  "  The  history  both  of  the  seven  years  of  chapel 
life  and  the  seven  years  of  church  life  testifies  that  the 
good  hand  of  the  Lord  has  been  upon  its  people." 

January  27,  1887,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  church 
established  a  building  fund  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church 
edifice.  In  November,  1887,  a  large  fair  was  held  in  War- 
burton  Hall,  lasting  for  three  days,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
new  church  building  fund,  when  another  edition  of  the 
"  Hillside  Echo  "  was  published. 

The  members  of  the  present  session  of  the  Dayspring 
Church  are :  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison,  William  Smith,  John 
H.  Cutbill,  and  Thomas  F.  Hope.   The  trustees  are,  Thomas 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  453 

F.  Hope,  John  H.  Cutbill,  James  M.  Rhys,  Edwin  Graham, 
John  Rose,  Roderick  Ross,  Charles  R.  Culver,  Robert 
Field,  and  John  Ross.  The  clerk  of  the  Session  is  Wil- 
liam Smith  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  is 
John  H.  Cutbill. 

"  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church  occupies  an  import- 
ant field  of  labor  in  Yonkers.  Its  services  are  well  at- 
tended and  the  problem  of  how^  to  reach  the  masses  is 
here  solved.  It  is  the  church  of  the  people  and  for  the 
people.  All  enter  into  its  work  with  hearty  zeal  and  de- 
votion." 

Two  young  men,  members  of  the  Dayspring  Church, 
are  preparing  for  the  ministry,  one  in  the  Grammar  School, 
(Kirkland  Hall),  CHnton,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
other  in  Hamilton  College,  Clinton,  N.  Y. 

The  following  statement  regarding  the  site  of  the 
new  church  building  is  from  the  annual  report  of  the 
church,  January,  1889: 

"  When  a  decision  to  build  a  new  church  was  reached, 
the  question  of  a  site  arose.  Realizing  that  a  church  on  a 
main  avenue  has  great  advantages  over  one  on  a  side 
street,  the  board  of  trustees  selected  the  corner  of  the  two 
principal  thoroughfares  on  the  east  side.  A  half-acre  of 
ground  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Walnut  Streets,  the  choi- 
cest site  for  a  church  on  the  hill,  was  secured  by  the  Board 
of  Trustees  for  $5,000.  It  was  purchased  of  a  generous 
gentleman  who  was  willing  to  sell  it  for  church  purposes 
for  less  than  its  value.  Last  year,  in  addition  to  giving 
$2,200  for  current  expenses  and  missions,  the  people,  by  a 
fair  and  other  means,  increased  their  building  fund  to 
$3,200.  The  old  church  site,  which  the  Dayspring  people 
purchased  years  ago  for  $1,250,  is  now  worth  $5,000.  A 
frjend  has  informed  the  Board  that  he  has  set  aside  $500 
for  the  new  church.  Several  substantial  citizens,  who  are 
accustomed  to  contribute  liberally,  have  given  the  trustees 
assurances  of  their  sympathy  with  the  building  project  and 
their  readiness  to  assist.  As  soon  as  practicable,  plans  are 
to  be  prepared,  and  if  appeals  for  more  contributions  are 
responded  to,  in  the  near  future  '  a  people's  church '  will 
crown  the  eastern  hill,  and  the  Sabbath-going  bell,  swing- 


454 


CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


ing  in  its  graceful  spire,  will  '  sprinkle  with  holy  sounds ' 
the  air  of  the  three  beautiful  valleys  below." 

The  "  Yonkers  Statesmaft  "  of  April  26,  1890,  contains 
the  following  article,  which  indicates  that  the  hopes  of  the 
Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church,  in  regard  to  a  new  build- 
insf,  are  about  to  be  realized  : 


THE   NEW  DAYSPRING  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


The  new  house  of  worship  for  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
which  the  above  is  a  good  representation,  is  to  be  located  on  half  an  acre 
of  ground  on  Walnut  Street.  The  edifice  will  practically  front  on  both 
streets,  with  a  double  entrance  through  the  tower  on  the  corner,  and  an  en- 
trance on  Walnut  Street,  both  of  which  give  access  to  a  broad  vestibule 
extending  entirely  across   the  Walnut  Street  front.    The  Walnut  Street 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  455 

entrance  also  gives  access  to  the  lecture-room,  parlors,  Sunday-scliool 
room,  etc.,  which  are  located  to  the  north  and  adjoining  the  main  building. 

The  main  auditorium  is  64  feet  wide  and  74  feet  long,  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  700,  exclusive  of  the  gallery  over  the  vestibule,  which  will 
be  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  extended  on  both  sides  when  occasion  re- 
quires. The  lecture-room,  adjoining  the  church  proper,  is  3S  by  42  feet. 
The  partition  on  one  side  will  be  arranged  in  sections,  so  that,  in  case  of 
an  overflow  meeting,  it  can  be  utilized  in  connection  with  the  main  audito- 
rium. Near  the  Walnut  Street  entrance,  and  connected  with  the  lecture- 
room  by  large  sliding  partitions,  is  the  Trustees'  room,  14  by  24,  and  par- 
lor, 20  by  24. 

To  the  rear  of  the  lecture-room  is  a  hallway  having  two  outside  en- 
trances, by  which  access  is  had  to  a  generous  serving  room,  underneath 
which,  in  the  basement,  will  be  the  kitchen.  Adjoining  this  hallway  is  the 
pastor's  study,  14  by  16  feet,  witli  a  private  doorway  to  the  yard  and  to  the 
pulpit  platform. 

Access  is  had  to  the  second  story  by  two  broad  platform  staircases, 
one  near  the  Walnut  Street  entrance,  and  one  from  the  rear  hallway.  The 
second  story  contains  the  Sunday-school  room,  40  by  42  feet,  a  Primary 
class  room  24  by  28,  and  four  class-rooms  10  by  20,  the  partitions  being  so 
arranged  that  the  entire  second  floor  can  be  used  as  one  large  room,  having 
a  total  length  of  104  feet.  Connected  with  the  Sunday-school  and  Primary 
class  room  is  the  librarian's  room,  8  by  12. 

The  extreme  size  of  the  edifice  will  be  118  by  106  feet.  The  extension 
walls  will  be  pressed  brick  and  Massachusetts  freestone.  The  interior  fin- 
ish will  be  quartered  oak.  The  windows  will  have  stained  glass  of  subdued 
tints.  The  pews  will  be  arranged  in  amphitheatre  style,  with  a  gentle  de- 
scent to  the  platform.  At  the  left  of  the  platform  will  be  the  choir  and 
organ  gallery,  having  a  private  entrance  from  Elm  Street.  The  ceiling  of 
the  auditorium  will  be  44  feet  high,  and  the  total  height  of  the  spire  from 
the  sidewalk  at  the  street  corner  to  the  apex  of  the  cross  will  be  106  feet. 

The  architect  of  this  new  church  is  Edwin  A.  Quick  ;  and  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Allison  and  his  people  of  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church  may  take 
a  just  pride  in  the  fact  that  they  will  soon  have  one  of  the  most  beautiful, 
commodious,  and  convenient  places  of  worship  in  the  city.  The  estimated 
cost  of  this  new  house  of  worship  is  145,000. 

Tuesday,  September  2,  1890,  ground  was  broken  for  the 
foundations  of  the  new  Dayspring  Church.  At  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning  a  goodly  number  of  the  congregation  met 
in  the  present  house  of  worship  and  repaired  to  the  site  of 
the  proposed  new  church.  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow,"  was  sung.  The  pastor,  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Allison,  read  appropriate  selections  from  Scripture,  among 
them  the  loth  verse  of  the  28th  chapter  of  i  Chronicles — 
"  Take  heed  now,  for  the  Lord  hath  chosen  thee  to  build  a 
house  for  the  sanctuary.  Be  strong  and  do  it."  The  peo- 
ple sang  : 


456  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

"  I  love  thy  kingdom,  Lord, 
The  house  of  thine  abode." 

Prayers  were  offered  by  Thomas  F.  Hope  and  William 
Smith,  and  two  more  hymns  were  sung. 

The  Session  were  represented  in  the  assembly  by  all 
the  Elders ;  the  Board  of  Trustees  by  the  President,  John 
H.  Cutbill,  and  other  members  ;  the  choir  by  John  W.  Craft, 
the  leader,  H.  L.  Huntington,  the  organist,  and  others ;  the 
Sunday-school  by  many  teachers  and  scholars. 

After  the  brief  but  touching  and  impressive  early 
morning  service  the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the 
pastor,  and  many  went  direct  to  their  shops  and  factories 
and  schools  to  take  up  with  glad  hearts  their  daily  work. 

The  first  choir  was  composed  of  Samuel  J.  Berrian,  or- 
ganist ;  John  Craft,  tenor  ;  George  Williamson  and  Frank 
Steadman,  bass ;  Miss  Ida  Sugden  and  Miss  Mary  Mitchell, 
soprano ;  and  Miss  Valeria  Ryder,  alto.  Mr.  Berrian  was 
faithful  as  a  deacon  of  the  church  and  rendered  cheerful 
and  effective  service  as  organist  until  his  failing  health 
compelled  withdrawal  from  the  position.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  May,  1886.  James  Tong  succeeded  Mr.  Berrian 
as  organist. 

Miss  Libbie  Berrian  has  frequently  presided  at  the  or- 
gan and  Miss  Julia  Wharmby  has  also  rendered  the  church 
acceptable  service  as  organist.  Samuel  Manoah  Berrian 
also  served  as  organist  for  a  number  of  years.  Robert 
Walsh  was  organist  in  1887  and  served  the  church  without 
compensation.  He  was  succeeded  by  Frederick  E.  Hubbell. 
The  present  organist  is  H.  L.  Huntington.  There  are 
about  fifteen  members  in  the  choir,  the  leader  being  John 
W.  Craft.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  choir  about  eleven 
years  and  leader  about  five  years.  His  assistant  is  James 
M.  Rhys.  Mr.  Craft  and  his  assistant  have  rendered  valu- 
able aid  in  the  choral  services  of  the  church. 

Charles  R.  Culver  served  the  church  as  treasurer  from 
its  organization,  April,  1879,  ^^ntil  May,  1884.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  Smith.  When  Mr.  Smith's  term  of 
office  expired  Mr.  Culver  was  reelected  and  still  occupies 
that  place. 

The  first  wedding  in   Dayspring  Church   was  on  the 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  457 

evening  of  September  12,  1883,  when  William  S.  Granger 
and  Miss  Carrie  Mason  Tanner  were  married  by  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison. 

Dennis  Nodine  acted  as  sexton  for  a  number  of  years 
most  faithfully.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  A.  Smith,  and 
he  by  James  Reynolds.  The  present  sexton  is  John  W. 
Craft,  who  has  served  since  January,  1887. 

The  pulpit  Bible  was  presented  by  William  Allen  But- 
ler, as  was  also  the  communion  service.  The  latter  is  a 
handsome,  plain  set,  a  small  cross  upon  the  lid  of  the  tank- 
ard being  almost  the  only  ornamentation.  The  goblets  are 
gold  lined  and  upon  each  piece  is  engraved  "  Day  spring 
Presbyterian  Church.     May  13,  1879." 

The  baptismal  bowl  was  presented  by  Wm.  H.  Veitch, 
September  25,  1879. 

The  Lord's  Supper  is  observed  on  the  last  Sunday 
morning  in  January,  March,  May,  July,  September,  and  No- 
vember. 

In  connection  with  the  work  of  Rev.  Charles  E.  AUi, 
son  on  Nodine  Hill,  the  opening  of  a  reading-room  and  li- 
brary, in  the  latter  part  of  1879,  bears  an  important  part.  It 
is  under  the  care  of  an  organization  distinct  from  the  Day- 
spring  Church.  In  its  incorporation,  however,  it  is  provi- 
ded that  the  pastor  of  Dayspring  Church,  or  if  at  any  time 
there  be  no  pastor,  one  of  the  elders  of  that  church,  shall  be 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

On  January  9,  1880,  Charles  Lockwood,  of  Yonkers, 
presented  this  Association  with  a  lot  and  a  building  which 
he  had  erected  on  it  for  its  meetings  and  reading-room,  with 
the  expression  of  a  wish  that  the  institution  might  promote 
growth  in  Christian  manhood  and  counteract  evil  influences 
which  wreck  character. 

The  building  is  on  Oliver  Avenue,  a  short  distance  in 
the  rear  of  the  present  house  of  worship  of  the  Dayspring 
Church.  It  is  the  property  of  the  "  Viewville  Literary 
Association."  The  opening  exercises  were  held  in  the 
Dayspring  Church,  January  16,  1880,  after  which  the  audi- 
ence repaired  to  the  reading-room.  The  first  book  carried 
into  it  was  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  "  the  Book  of  the 
Great  King  and  the  great  king  of  books." 


458  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

In  September  Mr.  Lockwood  presented  the  reading- 
room  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  new  books,  and  a  cata- 
logue of  the  circulating  library  was  printed.  Henry  Bow- 
ers presented  $20.  In  addition  to  historical  and  biographi- 
cal works  the  library  has  the  works  of  Irving,  Scott,  Eliot, 
Black,  Warner,  Mulock,  and  Cooper.  It  also  has  the  daily 
papers,  and  a  stereoscope,  double  lenses,  revolving  views. 
The  society  gives  literary  and  musical  entertainments,  and 
holds  meetings  from  time  to  time  for  debates. 

April  13,  1888,  a  fine  portrait  of  Charles  Lockwood,  the 
generous  donor  of  the  reading-room,  was  presented  to  the 
Viewville  Literary  Association. 

The  first  officers  were  the  five  trustees  who  were  incor- 
porated  as  the  Viewville  Literary  Association :  Rev.  C.  E. 
Allison,  President ;  Wm.  Smith,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  ; 
Samuel  Granger,  P.  Kelly,  and  Robert  Harper.  Messrs.  H. 
H.  Ferguson,  William  Webb,  Samuel  Granger,  Thomas 
L.  Mottram,  Henry  Gaul,  James  E.  Martin,  and  Louis  W.  Ar- 
cher have  also  served  as  its  presidents.  Messrs.  William 
Smith,  William  Bates,  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  and  others  have 
served  as  secretaries.  Messrs.  William  Webb  and  Thomas 
W.  lies  served  two  terms  as  treasurers.  The  annalist  of 
the  society  for  1 889  was  John  B.  Lees.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Henry  Gaul,  and  he  by  Louis  W.  Archer. 

The  following  are  its  present  officers :  Louis  W.  Archer, 
President ;  James  E.  Irvine,  Secretary  ;  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison, 
Treasurer.  These  officers,  with  Edwin  Graham  and  Theo- 
dore Wicht,  constitute  the  present  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  societies  at  work  in  and  for  the  Dayspring  Church 
and  Sunday  -  school  are :  Young  People's  Association,  the 
King's  Daughters,  Birthday  Society,  the  Armor  -  Bearers 
(Mrs.  Eva  Field's  class),  the  Willing  Ten,  the  W.  F.  D. 
(Miss  Christina  Ryder's  class),  L.  B.  C.  S.  (Miss  Lizzie 
Bruce's  class),  the  Young  Men's  Bible-class  Society,  and 
the  "  Little  Maids'  "  Society. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Dayspring  Chapel  on  Sunday  af- 
ternoon. May  19,  1872,  at  which  William  Allen  Butler  pre- 
sided  and   Charles   Lockwood    acted  as   secretary,  it   was 


DAYSPRING    PRP:SBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  459 

resolved  to  establish  a  Sunday-school.  On  the  following 
Sunday,  May  26,  1872,  Charles  Lockwood,  an  elder  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yonkers,  was  chosen  superin- 
tendent, and  Arthur  Hay  elected  secretary  and  librarian. 

At  this  meeting  classes  were  organized  and  the  follow- 
ing persons  offered  their  services  as  teachers  :  John  W. 
Skinner,  William  C.  Foote,  Charles  Lockwood,  Richard 
Wynkoop,  J.  F.  Travis,  John  Edwards,  Arthur  Hay,  Mrs. 
Marie  C.  Hughes,  Miss  Irene  Newell  (now  Mrs.  A.  C.  Bene- 
dict), Miss  Anna  E.  Smith,  Miss  Helen  Foote,  and  Miss 
Annie  Phillips.  The  school  was  opened  with  thirty-one 
scholars  and  the  twelve  teachers  above  mentioned.  Nearly 
all  of  these  teachers  were  either  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  or  connected  with  the  congregation. 

Mr.  Lockwood  in  his  superintendency  of  the  Dayspring 
Sunday-school  studiously  avoided  introducing  any  sensa- 
tional methods,  either  to  retain  the  pupils  or  to  draw  chil- 
dren from  other  Sunday-schools  in  the  city.  He  also  aimed 
to  secure  the  services  of  teachers  who  would  instruct  and 
interest  their  scholars  in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
not  simply  amuse  or  entertain  them,  but  impart  practical 
and  doctrinal  knowledge  of  the  Word  of  God.  In  addition 
to  his  duties  as  superintendent,  Mr.  Lockwood  frequently 
taught  classes  in  the  absence  of  teachers,  sometimes  divid- 
ing his  time  between  the  classes. 

The  expense  of  sustaining  the  school  for  the  year  1873 
was  $145  60,  which  was  generously  met  by  the  Missionary 
Association  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  as  was  that  of 
the  following  year,  1874,  when  the  expenses  of  the  school 
were  $380  99. 

The  attendance  steadily  increased  so  that  the  gallery 
of  the  chapel  was  occupied,  the  main  room  being  filled. 
It  numbered,  in  1874,  140  pupils.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  the  number  so  increased  that  the  chapel  could  not 
comfortably  accommodate  all  who  came  to  the  school.  In 
April,  1875,  steps  were  taken  to  enlarge  the  building.  The 
chapel  was  closed  from  April  1 1  to  May  23  in  order  to  make 
the  proposed  enlargement. 

October  7,  1875,  Mr.  Lockwood  reported  that  the  Sun- 
day-school had  donated  Si 84  towards  purchasing  a  bell  for 


460  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK. 

the  chapel.  The  attendance  at  the  close  of  1875  was  149 
scholars  and  twenty-three  teachers.  At  a  communion  ser- 
vice held  June  20,  1875,  nine  scholars  made  a  public  confes- 
sion of  their  faith  in  Christ,  uniting  with  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church.  The  school  held  a  Christmas  festival  in 
December  and  a  strawberry  festival  in  March.  Three  hun- 
dred volumes  were  added  to  the  Sunday-school  library  in 
1875.  A  large  Bible-class  was  sustained.  H.  M.  Schieffelin 
kept  the  school  supplied  with  question  books. 

At  the  anniversary  of  the  Presbyterian  Missionary 
Association,  held  Sunday  afternoon,  November  12,  1876,  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Sunday-school  was  pres- 
ent and  occupied  the  gallery  of  the  church.  Wm.  Allen 
Butler  expressed  his  gratification  at  the  spectacle  of  a  school 
so  large  and  prosperous.  Lucius  E.  Clark  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Bulford,  of  Charleston,  made  addresses  on  that  occasion. 
Superintendent  Lockwood  reported  that  the  average  attend- 
ance of  the  school  was  204,  and  the  largest  attendance  227. 
There  were  twenty-six  teachers,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  twenty-three.  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison  reported  that  there 
were  526  books  in  the  library,  that  the  school  had  been  reg- 
ularly supplied  with  Sunday-school  papers,  and  that  fifty 
copies  of  the  "American  Messenger"  were  distributed 
monthly  among  the  congregation. 

In  1876  the  young  men's  Bible-class,  taught  by  the  pas- 
tor. Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  began  the  study  of  the  life  of  Christ, 
upon  which  questions  were  prepared  by  the  pastor.  These 
questions  "  were  upon  the  end,  the  means,  and  the  methods 
of  Bible  study,  also  upon  the  social,  political,  and  religious 
characteristics  of  Christ's  day."  The  aim  was  to  "  make  the 
questions  direct  as  to  the  general  and  essential  facts  and 
doctrines,  and  suggestive  as  to  those  less  essential."  The 
questions  were  printed  in  circular  form  and  on  the  title- 
page  were  the  following  suggestive  sentences :  "  To  know 
about  Christ  is  one  thing,  to  know  Christ  and  to  become 
like  him  is  quite  another.  Pilate  and  Judas  knew  about 
him,  Peter  and  John  knew  him."  The  class  continued  the 
study  of  the  subject  for  two  or  three  years,  finishing  "  Rob- 
inson's Harmony  of  the  Gospels."  In  1877  the  class  num- 
bered from  twenty-five  to  thirty  young  men. 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  461 

The  following  report  of  the  Sunday-school  is  for  the 
centennial  year,  1876:  Officers,  4;  teachers,  23;  number  of 
pupils  on  register,  250;  average  attendance,  176;  largest 
attendance,  231  ;  number  in  infant  class,  50;  conversions, 
1 1  ;  deaths,  2  ;  volumes  in  library,  250.  The  school  is  pro- 
vided with  the  pastor's  Bible-class  for  men  and  four  Bible- 
classes  for  women. 

The  officers  of  the  school  at  that  time  were:  Charles 
Lockwood,  Superintendent ;  P.  Kelly,  Treasurer  and  Libra- 
rian, with  Chauncey  Gouch  and  Henry  Butler,  assistants. 
And  the  teachers  were :  Mrs.  H.  C.  Balch,  Mrs.  Christian 
Ryder,  Miss  Helen  S.  Foote,  Miss  Ida  Belknap,  Miss  Mary 
B.  Daniels,  Miss  M.  C.  Valentine,  Miss  Belle  Parsons,  Miss 
Sarah  S.  Clark,  Miss  Mary  E.  Beasley,  Miss  Sarah  Ains- 
worth.  Miss  Annie  McCuUough,  Miss  Emma  Clark,  Miss 
Emma  W.  Hoyt,  Miss- Isabel  Shipman,  Miss  Mary  Bradford, 
Miss  Tupper,  Miss  Williams,  Miss  Alice  Kniffin,  Miss  Mary 
F.  Sleight,  Messrs.  G.  W.  Farnum,  J.  F.  Travis,  Walter  W. 
Law,  P.  Kelly,  Henry  Butler,  Chauncey  Gouch,  and  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison. 

In  April,  1887,  the  chapel  was  so  overcrowded  that  the 
pastor  relinquished  his  class  which  he  had  taught  for  so 
many  years,  in  order  that  the  room  it  occupied  might  be 
assigned  to  classes  of  children.  The  young  men's  class  was 
afterwards  reorganized  and  is  still  taught  by  the  pastor. 

The  women's  Bible-class,  which  was  taught  by  Mrs. 
Marie  C.  Hughes,  was  also  overcrowded,  and  more  room 
was  needed  to  accommodate  its  increasing  numbers  in 
1877.  Mrs.  Hughes  was  most  faithful  in  her  devotion  to 
her  class. 

In  1876  Jonathan  T.  Travis,  who  had  been  a  faithful 
and  efficient  teacher  in  the  school  since  the  day  of  its  organ- 
ization, removed  to  Brooklyn.  The  school  also  sustained  a 
great  loss  by  the  removal  of  Richard  Wynkoop  from  the 
city.  He  had  rendered  valuable  service  both  to  the  school 
and  chapel.  The  pastor  at  an  entertainment  given  by  the 
friends  of  the  chapel  and  school  in  June,  1877,  was  present- 
ed with  an  elegant  gold  watch. 

The  Young  People's  Association  of  the  Dayspring 
Presbyterian  Church  came  into  existence  under  the  follow^- 


462  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

ing  interesting  circumstances :  William  Smith,  the  founder, 
(who  subsequently  became  its  President)  one  evening  in 
the  month  of  May,  1876,  while  strolling  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Sixth  Avenue  and  Twenty-third  Street,  New  York 
city,  attracted  by  singing,  entered  a  young  men's  prayer- 
meeting  of  a  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  service  and  impressed  by  the  evident  sincerity 
of  the  young  leader  and  of  those  who  took  part  therein. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting  he  received  a  cordial  welcome 
from  the  young  men  which  made  him  feel  at  once  thor- 
oughly at  home.  He  continued  while  in  New  York  to 
attend  the  weekly  meetings  and  induced  some  friends  to 
attend  them  also. 

On  his  return  to  Yonkers  he  wondered  whether  a  simi- 
lar meeting  could  not  be  established  here.  He  gave  the 
subject  much  thought,  and  resolved  to  make  the  attempt. 
One  day  he  invited  three  of  his  friends  to  meet  at  his  house 
on  a  certain  evening.  When  they  arrived  he  astonished 
them  somewhat  by  informing  them  that  they  were  to  hold 
a  prayer-meeting.  After  failing  two  or  three  times  in  their 
attempt  to  open  the  meeting,  a  hymn  was  sung  and  a  prayer 
offered.  The  friends  parted  with  serious  impressions.  The 
following  week  a  meeting  was  held  at  another  house,  and 
this  time  two  more  had  gathered,  making  a  total  of  six. 
The  meetings  were  held  weekly,  continuing  to  increase  in 
numbers  until  parlors  were  crowded  to  their  greatest  capa- 
city. Application  was  made  and  granted  for  the  use  of  a 
wing  of  the  Dayspring  Church,  and  finally  the  main  build- 
ing was  thrown  open. 

As  time  passed,  desiring  to  further  extend  their  useful- 
ness, it  was  decided  to  admit  to  the  meetings,  which  had 
heretofore  been  exclusively  for  young  men,  young  persons 
of  both  sexes.  A  meeting  was  held  and  the  Young  Peo- 
ple's Association  of  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church 
was  organized  to  succeed  the  young  men's  meeting. 

May  12,  1884,  the  pastor.  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  suggested 
to  the  Association  the  advisability  of  establishing  a  fund  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  church  building.  The  suggestion 
was  adopted  and  the  first  contribution  was  then  made. 

The  twelfth  anniversary  of  the  association  was  held  in 


DAYSPRING    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  4G3 

the  church  Monday  evening,  May  24,  1888.  There  were 
present  representatives  from  all  the  young  people's  associa- 
tions in  the  city.  The  President  of  the  society,  William 
Smith,  presided.  After  singing,  Frank  B.  Hickey,  of  the 
Westminster  Church,  offered  prayer.  A  selection  from  the 
Scriptures  was  read  by  Richard  Edie,  of  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church,  which  was  followed  by  the  report 
of  the  secretary,  Walter  Reynolds.  The  average  attend- 
ance was  fifty-eight.  One  death  had  occurred  during  the 
year,  and  the  membership  had  been  increased  by  the  addi- 
tion of  four  new  members.  The  membership  at  that  time 
was  seventy-five. 

Miss  Libbie  Berrian,  the  treasurer,  reported  that  $88 
had  been  expended  during  the  year.  Balance  in  treasury, 
$12.  Addresses  were  made  by  William  Smith  and  Rev.  C. 
E.  Allison.  The  meeting  was  closed  by  singing,  and  prayer 
by  William  M.  Dick,  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  the  society  to  go  for  an  out- 
ing each  Fourth  of  July,  games  of  various  descriptions  and 
refreshments  being  indulged  in,  and  also  contests  in  various 
athletic  sports  for  appropriate  trophies.  This  annual  fea- 
ture was  in  no  small  measure  the  cause  of  an  increase  in 
the  popularity  and  beneficial  influence  of  the  Association 

The  weekly  meeting  of  the  Association  is  held  every 
Monday  evening.  Every  two  months  a  missionary  meet- 
ing is  held,  the  topic  under  consideration  being  either 
home  or  foreign  missions.  The  Association  entered  upon 
its  sixteenth  year  last  May.  It  rendered  efficient  service  at 
the  church  fair  held  in  November,  1 887. 

With  appropriate  exercises  the  Association  celebrated 
its  next  anniversary  Monday  evening,  May  21,  1889.  Wm. 
Smith,  an  ex-President  of  the  Association,  presided.  The 
reports  of  the  officers  showed  that  the  members  had  not 
been  weary  in  well-doing.  Interesting  remarks  were  made 
by  George  D.  Mackay,  President  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison. 

The  Association  celebrated  on  Monday  evening.  May 
21,  1890,  its  fourteenth  anniversary  with  a  pleasant  gather- 
ing. Theodore  Ross,  the  President,  presided.  William 
Smith,  the  founder,  offered  prayer.     Mr.  Ross  read  from 


464  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

the  Scriptures,  and  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison  and  Franklin 
Soper,  M.  D.,  made  addresses.  Representatives  from  the 
sister  societies  of  the  Westminster  and  Reformed  churches 
were  present. 

The  singing  book  used  by  the  Association  in  their 
weekly  prayer-meetings  is  the  "  Gospel  Hymns,"  by  Messrs. 
Moody  and  Sankey. 

The  officers  of  the  Young  People's  Association  for  1889 
were :  William  B.  Jones,  President ;  John  Ross,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  Jerome  Kollmer,  Secretary ;  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  ex- 
officio  member  of  board.  William  Smith,  Walter  Reynolds, 
Thomas  Woodruff,  Libbie  Berrian,  Anna  L.  Graham,  Grace 
Banks,  and  Annie  Young,  with  the  four  officers  above 
mentioned,  constitute  the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  commit- 
tees were  :  Miss  A.  Graham,  Miss  L.  Berrian,  Miss  G.  Banks, 
W.  Smith,  T.  Woodruff,  and  W.  Jones,  visiting;  Miss 
Webb,  Miss  Young,  Miss  Graham,  Mr.  Ross,  Mr.  Reynolds, 
and  W.  Smith,  introduction ;  Messrs.  Reynolds,  Ross,  Smith, 
and  Woodruff,  employment. 

June  I,  1879,  Charles  Lockwood  assumed  the  entire  ex- 
pense of  supporting  the  Sunday-school,  about  $320  a  year. 
For  several  years  he  continued  to  bear  this  expense.  The 
following  figures  give  some  idea  of  the  standing  and  condi- 
tion of  the  school  from  1872  to  1879  •  ^872,  82  scholars  on 
the  roll  and  12  teachers;  1873,  150  scholars,  average  attend- 
ance, 100;  1874,  average  attendance,  1 10,  teachers,  21  ;  1875, 
attendance,  149,  teachers,  23  ;  1876,  attendance  204,  teach- 
ers, 23  ;  1877,  attendance  208,  teachers,  26 ;  1878,  attendance 
178,  teachers,  22  ;   1879,  attendance  167,  teachers,  20. 

The  following  persons  taught  in  the  Sunday-school  be- 
tween 1872  and  1879:  Messrs.  Lockwood,  Kelly,  Gouch, 
Butler,  Allison,  Wynkoop,  Travis,  Van  Norden,  Allen,  Tay- 
lor, Farnum,  Law,  Foote,  Smith,  L.  Morse,  A.  J.  Prime,  Sal- 
ter, Clark,  Wainwright,  Van  Tassell,  and  Henry  Taylor, 
Mrs.  Parsons,  Mrs  M.  C.  Hughes,  Mrs.  Balch,  Mrs.  Bate, 
Mrs.  Mapes,  Mrs.  Jordan,  Mrs.  Bates,  Misses  Ida  Belknap, 
M.  E.  Bradford,  Tappen,  M.  McCartey,  Helen  Foote,  Emma 
Clark,  Mary  Willard,  Annie  McCullough,  M.  Flagg,  B.  Par- 
sons, G.  Cruikshank,  Josie  Sawyer,  B.  Shipman,  Cora  Mack- 
rell,  Mary  Butler,  Harriet  Butler,  Kellogg,  Valentine,  Smith, 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  465 

Hoyt,  McMillan,  Mary  B.  Daniels,  Beasley,  Ryder,  Newell, 
and  Hipson. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  June  7,  1882,  the  Sunday- 
school  enjoyed,  its  annual  strawberry  and  ice-cream  festi- 
val. An  interesting  feature  of  the  exercises  was  the  pre- 
sentation of  books  as  rewards  for  Bible  study  and  regular  at- 
tendance during  the  year.  Sarah  Smith,  Julia  Hill,  Emma 
Button,  Katie  Archer,  Louise  Webb,  James  Andrews,  and 
Lena  and  Belle  Weisendonger  received  books  for  regular 
and  punctual  attendance,  and  Lena  Weisendonger  a  volume 
of  poems  for  learning  Scripture  verses.  She  had  committed 
to  memory  927  verses. 

"  The  pen  of  the  historian  cannot  record  all  the  names 
of  those  who  were  the  true  friends  of  the  church  and  Sun- 
day-school. The  record  of  their  fidelity  is  above  on  the 
books  of  Him  whose  reward  is  sure."  But  it  seems  peculiar- 
ly fitting  to  note  briefly  the  work  of  one  who  was  identified 
with  the  interests  and  success  of  the  church  and  Sunday- 
school  from  its  organization.  At  the  time  of  the  building  of 
a  house  of  worship  on  Nodine  Hill  no  one  took  deeper  in- 
terest, nor  discharged  more  efficiently  and  faithfully  his  du- 
ties as  a  member  of  the  building  committee,  than  did  Pat- 
rick Kelly.  In  the  Dayspring  Church  Annals,*  written  by 
Rev.  C.  E.  Allison,  is  the  following  :  "  He  was  a  generous 
and  faithful  friend.  If  anything  was  to  be  attended  to  in 
connection  with  enlarging,  repairing,  trimming,  or  caring 
for  the  chapel,  Air.  Kelly  was  the  man  to  do  it,  or  to  see  that 
it  was  well  done.      He  was  unassuming  as  he  was  faithful." 

Mr.  Kelly  served  as  librarian,  secretary,  and  treasurer 
of  the  Dayspring  Sunday-school.  He  died  suddenly,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1882,  on  the  morning  of  his  return  from  Europe, 
whither  he  had  gone  for  the  restoration  of  his  health. 

Funeral  services  were  held  on  Wednesday  afternoon, 
September  20,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  ser- 
vices were  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Reid,  assisted  by  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison.     Rev.  Mr.  Reid,  in  his  address,  said 

*  The  Dayspring  Church  has  a  book  entitled  "Annals."  It  is  kept  by 
the  pastor,  who  has  recorded  important  events  in  the  growth  of  the  church 
and  of  the  east  side  of  the  city.  It  has  come  to  be  greatly  valued  by  the 
people. 

Sunday-school  Work.  ^O 


466  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

with  much  feeling  :  "  Here  is  a  man  whom  I  knew — whom 
I  loved — a  man  of  usefulness  and  of  sterling  integrity.  His 
life-work  was  one  of  consistency,  bringing  honor  to  the 
church.  He  was  a  trustee  and  deacon,  and  as  such  respect- 
ed. In  all  the  efforts  to  improve  this  church  he  was  ready 
to  do  his  part.     Being  dead  he  yet  speaketh." 

In  September,  1886,  prizes  were  offered  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sunday-school  who  should  collect  the  largest 
amount  towards  the  building  fund.  A  meeting  was  held 
to  hear  the  names  of  those  who  had  collected  the  largest 
amount  and  to  enjoy  the  refreshments  which  the  ladies 
had  provided.  Congratulatory  remarks  were  made  by 
Charles  Lockwood,  William  Smith,  and  Rev.  C.  E.  Allison. 
The  first  prize,  an  elegant  dressing-case,  was  presented  to 
Emma  Menzer,  who  had  collected  $80  20.  The  second  prize, 
also  a  beautiful  dressing-case,  was  given  to  Florence  Wharm- 
by,  who  had  collected  $25  05.  George  Thomas  received  the 
third  prize,  a  riding  whip.  He  had  collected  $21  55.  A 
doll,  which  was  offered  to  the  member  of  the  infant  class 
who  should  bring  the  largest  amount,  was  given  to  little 
Susie  Percival,  who  had  collected  $5  06.  A  large  cake  was 
given  to  industrious  Jacob  Minnerly,  who  had  found  time, 
although  his  daily  work  was  heavy  and  wearisome,  to  fill 
nearly  four  of  the  little  collection  barrels.  "  Honor  to 
whom  honor  is  due."  The  whole  amount  collected  by 
this  effort  was  $300. 

The  Dayspring  Church  Boys'  Society  was  organized 
April,  1887.  In  July,  1887,  it  numbered  fifty  members. 
The  boys,  in  connection  with  this  society,  established  a 
prayer-meeting  in  April,  1887. 

A  class  taught  by  Miss  Cora  W.  Mackrell,  known  as 
the  "  Willing  Ten,"  consisting  of  ten  young  ladies,  gave  a 
very  pleasant  entertainment  at  Temperance  Hall,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1887,  in  behalf  of  the  church  building  fund.  The  class 
also  raised  by  their  floral  arbor  at  the  church  fair,  held 
November,  1887,  $150. 

The  King's  Daughters  is  another  society  which  raised 
$243  85  for  the  building  fund  at  the  fair.  The  Birthday 
Society  presented  the  treasurer  of  the  church  with  $60  for 
this  object.      James  M.  Rhys'  singing  class  also  worked 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  467 

for  the  church  building  fund.  The  Heart  and  Hand  So- 
ciety, organized  January,  1887,  of  which  Miss  Emma  Menzer 
was  President,  Miss  Julia  Wharmby,  Treasurer,  and  Miss 
Amelia  Menzer,  Secretary,  in  January,  1887,  presented  the 
church  with  $6t„  and  on  Christmas,  1888,  a  fine  Decker 
piano.  The  Cup  of  Water  Society  raised  $89  for  the  church 
building  fund  in  1887,  and  the  Golden  Seal  Society  also 
contributed. 

In  1884  the  following  teachers  were  in  the  Sunday- 
school:  Messrs.  Robert  Harper,  Herbert  Claxton,  Ogden 
Wilson,  James  Smith,  Henry  Gaul,  George  K.  Gilbert, 
McKittrick,  Miller,  Granger,  Field,  and  Benjamin  F.  Parli- 
man  ;  Misses  Joyce,  Ainsworth,  Williams,  Stewart,  Dwight, 
Kittie  Goddard,  Armenia  Baird,  Fannie  Upham,  Carson, 
Kniffin,  Jordan,  Haight,  Hall,  Gray,  Worden,  May  Tappen, 
Ella  Coles,  Latham,  Ada  Daughaday,  and  Churchill,  and 
at  a  later  date,  Misses  Davidson,  Louisa  Webb,  Eliza  Smith, 
Lockwood,  Gould,  Lizzie  Graham,  and  Underbill. 

The  first  teacher  who  had  charge  of  the  primary  depart- 
ment of  the  school  was  Miss  Ida  Belknap.  In  addition  to 
her  duties  as  superintendent  of  the  department  she  foster- 
ed by  patient  and  faithful  work  the  musical  exercises,  which 
are  not  the  least  important  feature  of  the  work  of  the  Sun- 
day-school. She  also,  for  many  years,  led  the  singing  in  the 
Friday  evening  prayer-meeting  and  on  Sunday  afternoon 
in  the  church.  In  the  festivals,  fairs,  and  entertainments 
held  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  she  was  suggestive  and 
efficient  in  methods  and  ways  to  make  them  attractive  and 
successful.  Hers  was  long-continued  service.  In  1880  this 
department,  under  Miss  Belknap's  charge,  had  more  than 
one  hundred  names  enrolled. 

Mrs.  Robert  Harper  succeeded  Miss  Belknap.  She  was 
succeeded  by  the  superintendent,  Charles  Lockwood,  who 
taught  for  a  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Sugden,  as- 
sisted by  Miss  Cora  Aldrich.  Miss  Cora  Mackrell  taught  it 
for  a  brief  period.  The  department  at  present  is  efficiently 
taught  by  Miss  Mary  Chapman.  It  enrolls  about  one  hun- 
dred pupils  (May,  1891).  The  International  Lessons  are 
taught,  also  the  Commandments,  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and 
"Child's  Short  Catechism,"  edited  by  Rev.   J.  Haddington 


468  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Brown.  The  "Little  Folks'  Paper"  is  distributed.  This 
department  meets  in  the  Viewville  Reading-room,  at  2 :  30 
p.  M.,  there  being  insufficient  room  for  it  in  the  church. 

On  Thursday,  July  12,  1888,  the  Dayspring  Sunday- 
school,  with  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Sunday-school 
and  the  Nepperhan  Avenue  Mission  Sunday-school,  went  on 
an  excursion  to  Boynton  Beach,  N.  J.  On  this  grand  union 
Sunday-school  excursion  were  over  sixteen  hundred  persons. 

Report  to  Presbytery  for  1880:  Officers  and  teachers, 
27;  adult  scholars,  24;  youth  and  children,  251  ;  total  mem- 
bership, 302  ;  average  attendance,  1 70 ;  number  united  with 
the  church,  4. 

Report  of  Session  to  Presbytery  for  1885  :  Officers,  4  ; 
teachers,  24;  scholars,  223:  total,  251  ;  average  attendance, 
165  ;  average  attendance  of  scholars  at  church,  60;  number 
received  into  church,  4 ;  books,  600 ;  amount  given  to  our 
Boards,  $20  ;  to  other  benevolent  objects,  $70. 

Report  to  Presbytery  for  1886 :  Officers,  4 ;  teachers,  27  ; 
scholars,  269:  total,  300;  average  attendance,  185  ;  average 
attendance  of  scholars  at  church,  100  ;  received  into  church, 
10;  books  in  the  library,  500;  amount  given  to  our  boards, 
$254;  to  other  benevolent  boards,  $150. 

Report  to  Presbytery  for  1888:  Officers,  4;  teachers, 
29;  scholars,  289:  total,  322;  average  attendance,  210; 
average  attendance  of  scholars  at  church,  125  ;  scholars 
members  of  church,  60 ;  books  in  library,  340. 

The  following  is  the  statistical  report  of  the  Session  for 
twelve  years,  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  :  The  number  of  scholars  in  the  school  in  1880  was 
280  ;  in  1881,  325  :  in  1882,  335  ;  1883,  305  ;  1884,  310 ;  1885, 
251;  1886,300;  1887,299;  1 888,  322;  1889,  300;  iSgo,  330; 
1 89 1,  310. 

Charles  Lockwood,  after  sixteen  years  of  uninterrupted 
service  as  superintendent  of  Dayspring  Sunday-school,  re- 
signed in  April,  1888.  On  his  retirement  the  officers  and 
teachers,  as  an  expression  of  their  estimation  of  him  as  an 
honored  and  valued  associate,  and  as  an  earnest  and  faith- 
ful Christian  worker  in  the  Master's  vineyard,  passed  the 
following  resolutions,  which  were  subsequently  beautifully 
engrossed  and  presented  to  him. 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  469 

A   TESTIMONIAL. 

Whereas,  The  organization  and  growth  of  both  Day- 
spring  Sunday-school  and  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church 
are  largely  due  to  the  long-continued  labor  and  generosity 
of  Charles  Lockwood  ;  and 

Whereas,  He  has  served  the  Sunday-school  as  superin- 
tendent from  its  organization  (May,  1872)  up  to  the  present 
day,  and  has  been  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Day- 
spring  Presbyterian  Church  from  the  time  it  was  founded 
(April,  1879);  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school, together  with  the  pastor  and  elders  of  the 
church,  by  formal  and  joint  resolution,  assure  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  of  our  esteem  and  great  gratitude,  realizing  as  we  do 
that  hundreds  of  children  and  youth  who  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Dayspring  Sunday-school  have  received  inesti- 
mable instruction  in  the  Word  of  God  by  reason  of  Mr. 
Lockwood's  profound  interest  in  their  highest  welfare, 
many  of  them  having  been  taught  regularly  for  years  by 
teachers  brought  from  their  distant  homes  at  his  expense. 

Resolved,  That  we  congratulate  him  upon  the  pleasure 
he  must  enjoy  as  he  reviews  these  many  years  of  efficient 
service  for  that  divine  Master  who  regards  what  is  done  for 
the  least  of  his  brethren  as  done  for  him,  and  who  assures 
his  people  that  whosoever  giveth  even  a  cup  of  cold  water 
in  the  name  of  a  disciple  shall  not  lose  his  reward. 

Resolved,  that  we  also  congratulate  him  upon  the  en- 
during and  ever-widening  influence  which  the  Sunday- 
school  and  the  Dayspring  Presbyterian  Church  he  has  done 
so  much  to  establish  and  strengthen  promise  to  exert  for 
promoting  God's  glory  and  man's  good  long  after  he  and 
his  associates  have  been  called  to  their  reward. 

Resolved  by  the  Session,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread 
upon  the  Sessional  records,  and  by  the  officers  and  teachers 
of  the  Sunday-school  that  they  be  engrossed  and  presented 
to  Mr.  Lockwood  on  the  day  he  retires  from  the  office  of 
superintendent. 

YoNKERS,  May,  18S8. 


470  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

When  Mr,  Lockwood  resigned  he  assured  the  school  of 
his  undiminished  interest  is  its  welfare,  and  said  that  he 
expected  to  remain  as  a  teacher.  He  suggested  that  com- 
mittees be  formed  to  have  oversight  of  the  various  depart- 
ments, such  as  library,  music,  entertainments,  special  meet- 
ings, visiting,  etc. 

In  the  year  1881  the  Dayspring  Sunday-school  was  the 
second  largest  Sunday-school  in  the  Westchester  Presbytery, 
which  numbered  at  that  date  thirty-nine  churches.  The 
enrolment  in  April,  1889,  was  three  hundred  scholars.  The 
number  of  scholars  who  were  received  into  the  communion 
of  the  church  in  1887  was  twenty-one. 

The  Christmas  festivals  of  the  Dayspring  Sunday- 
school,  with  their  snow-covered  ship,  their  North  Pole 
railroad,  their  chimney  and  reindeer  and  sleigh,  have 
always  been  very  enjoyable.  The  last  one  was  celebrated 
by  the  Dayspring  "Magi  and  Midgets"  on  December  27, 
1890. 

After  the  Scriptures  were  read,  prayer  was  offered  by 
Charles  Lockwood  and  an  address  was  made  by  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison.  Sweet  carols  were  sung  during  the 
evening,  among  them  one  by  the  infant-class.  Carrie  Bate 
recited  a  Christmas  poem.  A  cantata  was  rendered  by  a 
dozen  or  more  lads  and  lassies.  It  represented  the  Christ- 
mas of  a  sailor's  family  and  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  the 
large  audience  of  little  folk.  Then  another  company  of 
midgets  presented  a  Christmas  piece  entitled  "  The  Old 
Woman  who  Lived  in  a  Shoe."  Both  4;his  piece  and  the 
cantata  were  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Eva  Field,  Miss 
Lizzie  Wharmby,  and  Miss  Hattie  Howarth,  who  for  many 
weeks  had  been  training  the  participants. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  presents  were  distributed. 
From  a  beautiful  Christmas-tree  very  pretty  dolls  arrayed 
in  lovely  dresses  were  taken  and  passed  over  to  the  eager 
little  girls.  The  boys  received  tool-chests,  and  the  next 
day  Nodine  Hill  abounded  in  juvenile  carpenters.  Wil- 
liam Smith,  the  superintendent,  received  a  beautiful  chair 
and  wall-pocket ;  and  John  Craft,  the  choir-leader,  an  ele- 
gant clock.     Many  other  gifts  were  distributed. 

The  school  contributes  annually  towards  foreign  mis- 


DAYSPRING   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  47 1 

sions,  and  helps  support  a  Sunday-school  in  the  South  for 
poor  whites. 

Miss  Ada  M.  Daughaday,  a  former  teacher  of  this 
school,  is  now  a  missionary  at  the  Osaka  station  of  the 
Japan  Mission. 

The  energetic  and  devoted  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Shelter  Island,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Parli- 
man,  and  Rev.  F.  B.  Dwight,  subsequently  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  were  also 
teachers  in  this  Sunday-school. 

Dayspring  Sunday-school  has  been  the  child  of  prayer 
and  of  faith.  It  has  been  and  is  now  the  hope  of  the 
church.  Never  was  a  more  faithful  or  self-denying  body 
of  teachers  gathered  together. 

The  Sunday-school  hymn-book  is  "  Select  Hymns." 
The  school  sessions  are  at  2 :  30  P.  M. ;  teachers'  meetings 
are  held  Saturday  evenings. 

There  have  been  but  two  superintendents  of  this  Sun- 
day -  school  since  its  organization  —  Charles  Lockwood, 
elected  May  i,  1872  (resigned  April,  1888),  and  William 
Smith,  elected  May,  1888.  The  present  officers  are:  Wil- 
liam Smith,  Superintendent ;  Charles  Lockwood,  Assistant 
Superintendent;  Miss  Annie  L.  Graham,  Lady  Superin- 
tendent ;  John  H.  Cutbill,  Treasurer  and  Librarian  ;  Robert 
L.  Field,  Assistant  Librarian  ;  Miss  Libbie  Berrian,  Organ- 
ist ;  John  W.  Craft,  Precentor. 

The  teachers  are  Mrs.  Annie  A.  Howell,  Mrs.  Annie 
E.  Davis,  Mrs.  Allen  Taylor,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Van  Tassell, 
Mrs.  Henry  Steadman,  Mrs.  Harry  Hipson,  Mrs.  Eva  Field, 
Miss  Amelia  Menzer,  Miss  Martha  Curran,  Miss  Lizzie 
Wharmby,  Miss  Libbie  Berrian,  Miss  Lottie  Percival,  Miss 
Annie  Graham,  Miss  Eliza  Smith,  Miss  Julia  Lichtenber- 
ger.  Miss  Edith  Kendall,  Miss  Christina  Ryder,  Miss  Mae 
Lillian  Cutbill,  Miss  Leila  Sugden,  Miss  Lizzie  Bruce,  Miss 
Louisa  Desgrey,  Miss  Mary  Chapman,  Messrs.  Charles 
Lockwood,  Uriah  Wilson,  Thomas  H.  Smith,  Theodore 
Wicht,  George  A.  Waechter,  Joseph  Smith,  and  Rev. 
Charles  Elmer  Allison. 

"  These  officers  and  teachers,  constrained  by  the  love 
of  their  great  Teacher,  are  earnestly  endeavoring  to  impart 


472  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

to  their  classes  such  instruction  out  of  God's  Word  that 
the  children  and  youth  of  Dayspring  Sunday-school,  while 
increasing  in  stature,  may  also  '  increase  in  wisdom  and  in 
favor  with  God  and  man,'  and  may  '  go  before  the  face  of 
the  Lord  to  prepare  his  ways,  to  give  knowledge  of  salva- 
tion unto  his  people  by  the  remission  of  their  sins  through 
the  tender  mercy  of  our  God,  whereby  the  Day  spring  from 
on  high  hath  visited  us,  to  give  light  to  them  that  sit  in 
darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death,  to  guide  our  feet  into 
the  way  of  peace.'  " 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  473 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

MESSIAH   BAPTIST   CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1872,  Mrs.  Henry  Peel,  Mrs. 
Grace  Purdy,  and  Henry  E.  Duers  organized  the  prayer- 
meeting  which  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Henry  Peel 
in  Ritter's  Lane,  near  East  Ashburton  Avenue,  from  which 
sprang  the  Messiah  Baptist  Church.  In  1874  Henry  E. 
Duers,  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  sent  a 
note  addressed  to  the  congregation  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
Church,  who  at  that  time  were  worshipping  in  Rooney 
Hall,  on  North  Broadway,  requesting  their  pastor  to  read  it 
at  the  evening  service.  The  note  contained  the  following 
request : 

"  Members  of  Baptist  churches  in  Yonkers  who  are  pres- 
ent are  requested  to  attend  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  Town- 
send  Hall  on  the  following  Tuesday." 

After  reading  this  notice  the  pastor  gave  his  unquali- 
fied disapproval  of  it  in  words  which  could  be  plainly  under- 
stood by  his  hearers.  In  response  to  the  invitation  three 
persons — Frederick  Gilliam,  Deacon  Roberts,  and  Henry 
E.  Duers — met  in  Townsend  Hall  at  the  time  appointed. 
A  Sunday  service  was  held  in  that  hall  two  weeks  later 
and  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  H.  Dennis,  a  student 
in  the  Richmond  Institute,  Va. 

The  next  Sunday,  A.  F.  Decker,  a  member  of  the 
Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  addressed  the  little 
gathering.  Townsend  Hall  was  secured  for  continued  ser- 
vices at  a  rental  of  $20  per  month.  In  the  month  of  May 
there  was  considerable  difficulty  in  raising  the  amount  re- 
quired. Said  one  of  the  congregation,  in  recalling  this  ex- 
perience, "  The  time  was  dark  for  us,  very  dark.  The  rent 
was  called  for,  but  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury. 
Two  days  after  the  rent  was  due  $22  was  handed  to  us.  It 
was  the  contribution  of  nineteen  different  persons.  From 
that  day  we  decided  to  call  our  mission   '  Immanuel,'  by 


474  CHURCH   AND*  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

which  name  it  was  known  until  July,   1876,  when  it  was 
changed  to  *  Messiah.'  " 

During  the  year  1874-75  the  prayer-meeting  was  held 
with  some  irregularity  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Peel.  Those 
who  were  always  present  whenever  it  was  held  were  Thom- 
as Peel,  Henry  Evans,  Joseph  Maltby,  James  White,  Charles 
Mann,  Richard  Bailey,  and  Henry  Travis,  all  of  whom  may 
be  considered  the  founders  of  the  new  Baptist  society  which 
subsequently  became  an  established  church  organization. 
Of  the  above  mentioned  persons  all  but  two— Henry  Evans 
and  Richard  Bailey— remain  in  the  communion  of  the  Mes- 
siah Baptist  Church  to-day. 

There  appear  to  be  conflicting  opinions  in  regard  to 
the  exact  date  of  the  organization  of  this  church.  Some  of 
the  early  members  assert  that  it  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1875. 

Whereas  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  this  church  was  held  in  the  new  church  building  in  the 
month  of  July,  1889,  in  accordance  with  that  date  we  give 
the  time  of  its  organization  as  above.  Rev.  William  Spel- 
man,  of  New  York  city,  was  present  at  its  organization, 
which  was  accomplished  in  Townsend  Hall,  North  Broad- 
way, with  twenty  members. 

We  find  in  the  statistical  record  of  the  fifteenth  annual 
meeting  of  the  New  England  Baptist  Missionary  Conven- 
tion, held  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  19,  1882,  the  word  "uni- 
ted" in  connection  with  this  church,  and  the  date  1879.  ^^ 
this  is  an  official  church  record,  we  give  1879  ^s  the  year 
when  this  Baptist  society  was  officially  recognized  as  an 
organized  church. 

Sunday  services  were  regularly  held  after  the  organiza- 
tion, and  the  stated  services  of  Rev.  R.  D.  Wynn  were  se- 
cured. For  a  number  of  years  church  services  were  held 
in  Townsend  Hall  under  unpleasant  and  serious  disadvan- 
tages which  were  unfavorable  to  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  church.  An  effort  was  made  to  purchase  the  build- 
ing with  a  view  to  its  enlargement  and  improvement  for 
church  purposes.  The  amount  required  was  $600.  An 
appeal  was  made  to  friends  in  Yonkers  for  assistance  to 
raise  that  sum,  provided  the  members  of  the  church  and 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  475 

congregation  would  raise  half  of  the  money  needed.  The 
matter  was  taken  into  consideration  by  a  committee  from 
the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  consisting  of  J.  W. 
Ackerman,  William  Holme,  and  Samuel  Dinsmore,  who 
approved  of  the  plan,  provided  the  money  needed  for  the 
purchase  of  the  property  could  be  secured. 

The  congregation,  through  great  effort,  succeeded  in 
purchasing  a  lot  on  Woodworth  Avenue,  near  the  corner 
of  Ashburton  Avenue,  upon  which  they  hoped  to  erect  a 
church  building,  the  former  plan  being  abandoned.  An 
effort  was  made  to  start  a  building-fund,  and  to  this  end 
several  entertainments  and  concerts  were  given.  Their 
efforts  were  not  as  successful  as  they  had  hoped,  and  at 
times  they  feared  that  this  plan  also  would  have  to  be 
given  up.  But  a  few  of  their  number  with  undaunted  cour- 
age, energy,  and  pluck  determined  to  press  onward  despite 
the  unceasing  and  almost  insurmountable  obstacles  which 
ever  and  anon  arose  in  their  pathway. 

At  this  period  of  the  church's  history  the  hearts  of  its 
members  were  made  to  rejoice  by  the  announcement  that 
James  B.  Colgate  had  purchased  a  portion  of  the  Dr.  Levi 
W.  Flagg  estate  on  Ashburton  Place,  with  the  building 
thereon,  formerly  known  as  the  "  Leighton  Academy," 
which  was  to  be  remodelled  for  a  church  for  their  use. 

The  church  is  an  attractive  wooden  structure  and  is 
entered  from  the  north  through  wide  folding  doors,  open- 
ing into  a  vestibule  which  is  1 1  feet  wide  and  32  feet  long, 
from  which  two  doors  communicate  with  the  main  audi- 
torium, which  has  two  aisles,  one  on  each  side.  The  seat- 
ing capacity  is  about  260,  divided  into  sixty-four  pews, 
made  of  white  ash,  as  is  also  the  pulpit  desk,  which  is  rich- 
ly panelled  and  ornamented  and  finished  with  a  movable 
upholstered  top.  The  rostrum  occupies  a  recess  at  the 
south  end  of  the  room.  It  is  furnished  with  three  hand- 
somely upholstered  white  oak  chairs. 

Beneath  the  rostrum  is  the  baptistry,  reached  by  stairs 
at  either  side,  and  communicates  with  robing  and  toilet 
rooms,  and  also  with  the  pastor's  study,  from  the  latter 
of  which  exit  is  had  to  the  yard  in  the  rear  of  the  church. 

A  broad  and  easy  flight  of  stairs  in  the  main  vestibule 


476  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

leads  to  the  second  story,  which  is  divided  into  three  rooms, 
the  larger  one  being  30  by  36  feet,  and  the  two  smaller  ones 
14  by  18  feet  each.  There  are  glass  partitions  between 
these  rooms,  so  arranged  that  the  entire  floor  can  be  thrown 
into  one  large  room  whenever  necessary  to  so  use  it. 

The  cost  of  the  property,  including  the  improvements, 
was  $15,000.  The  work  of  reconstructing  and  completing 
the  building  was  done  by  the  following  firms :  Edwin  A. 
Quick,  architect ;  J.  and  G.  Stewart,  mason  work ;  S.  F. 
Quick,  carpenter  work. 

The  presentation  of  this  church  edifice  by  Mr.  Colgate 
occurred  in  the  same  month,  June,  nineteen  years  after, 
as  the  presentation  of  the  princely  gift  of  the  beautiful 
Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  by  him  and  his  associate 
and  friend,  John  B.  Trevor,  to  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist 
Church  of  Yonkers. 

The  new  church  was  opened  on  Sunday  morning,  June 
3,  1888.  Rev.  E.  Bird  preached  the  introductory  sermon. 
At  the  dedicatory  services,  held  in  the  afternoon  at  2 :  30 
o'clock,  a  large  congregation  of  colored  and  white  people 
were  present.  The  services  were  opened  with  the  singing  of 
the  doxology,  and  the  pastor.  Rev.  A.  B.  Brown,  repeated 
the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  choir  of  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist 
Church,  New  York  city,  were  present,  with  their  leader, 
Samuel  Jackson,  and  assisted  by  Miss  Virginia  E.  Hunt, 
who  presided  at  the  organ,  led  the  congregation  in  singing. 
Dr.  Perry  read  the  following  Scripture  selections :  Exodus 
25  :  i-io,  and  i  Kings  8  :  12-30.  Rev.  E.  Bird,  of  Brooklyn, 
offered  the  prayer  of  dedication. 

After  the  prayer  James  B.  Colgate  made  the  presenta- 
tion address.  After  referring  briefly  to  the  early  history 
of  the  church  and  to  the  unattractiveness  and  difficulties 
which  surrounded  them  in  their  former  place  of  worship, 
Mr.  Colgate  said : 

"  You  are  now  situated  at  a  central  point,  in  the  centre 
of  the  religious  influence  of  the  city  of  Yonkers.  You  have 
on  the  south  of  you  the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  is  con- 
centrated wealth  and  learning.  To  the  north  is  St.  Paul's 
Church,  with  its  very  beautiful  service  and  ritual.  To  the 
east  is  the  Methodist  Church,  burning  with  zeal  for  Christ 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  477 

and  Methodism.  And  near  by  is  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church,  whose  members  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
These  surroundings  ought  to  be  an  incentive  to  you  to  do 
better  things.  Every  one  of  these  churches  will  watch  you. 
If  you  behave  yourselves  and  follow  the  precepts  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  they  will  respect  you.  No  one,  however, 
w^U  respect  you  unless  you  respect  yourselves. 

"  Now  I  have  given  this  property  to  the  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church,  in  trust  for  you.  The  trustees  of 
that  church  are  to  lease  this  property  to  you  for  twenty 
years  at  $1  a  year.  The  gift  has  been  made,  however,  under 
certain  restrictions.  The  lease  is  to  be  made  in  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  a  letter.  That  letter  says  that  this  build- 
ing shall  never  be  encumbered  with  a  mortgage  or  any 
other  debt.  Again,  this  place  cannot  be  sublet,  except  for 
use  as  a  church  of  Christ.  Among  the  expenses  you  will 
have  will  be  those  produced  in  keeping  the  property  in 
repair  and  in  insuring  it.  And  if  this  property  is  burned 
or  condemned  by  the  authorities,  the  money  received  from 
the  insurance  or  the  sale  must  be  used  to  build  another 
Baptist  church  for  the  colored  people. 

"  Another  clause  says  that  this  lease  is  made  for  a 
church  of  Christ.  It  is  not  made  to  quarrel  in,  and  if  dis- 
sensions arise  among  you  and  they  do  not  cease  after  the 
trustees  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  have 
notified  you,  the  trustees  can  take  possession  and  close  the 
house.  The  church  of  Christ  is  not  made  to  quarrel  in — '  a 
new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  an- 
other.' While  it  is  stated  here  that  it  cannot  be  sublet, 
another  clause  says  that  you  may  lease  it  to  a  society  for 
an  evening  for  such  purposes  as  are  not  unbecoming  a 
church  of  Christ.  The  lease  may  be  renewed  at  the  end 
of  twenty  years. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  am  done.  I  present  this  lease 
and  this  letter  to  you.  I  present  to  you  also  the  key  to 
this  building.  And  may  God  bless  you  ;  may  the  spirit  of 
Christ  dwell  within  you ;  and  may  you  abundantly  prosper 
and  increase  like  a  fruitful  vine." 

Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  the  pastor,  responded  briefly  to  ]\Ir. 
Colgate's  remarks,  and  read  resolutions  which  had  been 


478  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

unanimously  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  Sun- 
day, December  i8,  1878,  expressive  of  the  gratitude  of  the 
congregation  to  James  B.  Colgate  for  his  liberal  gift  of  a 
building  suitable  for  a  church  and  Sunday-school,  which 
were  signed  by  the  pastor,  deacons,  and  trustees  of  the 
church.  Thanks  were  also  extended  to  Mrs.  James  B.  Col- 
gate for  the  beautiful  pulpit  Bible  ;  to  Theodore  Gaul  for 
a  handsome  clock  ;  to  E.  A.  Quick,  the  architect,  who  plan- 
ned and  carried  out  the  reconstruction  of  their  building  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  ;  and  finally  to  all 
who  had  in  any  way  helped  them  to  better  their  condition. 

A  hymn  was  then  sung,  after  which  Rev.  Dr.  R.  L. 
Penney,  of  Brooklyn,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon  from 
the  text  Mark  9 :  5-7 :  "  And  Peter  answered  and  said  to 
Jesus,  Master,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here  ;  let  us  make 
three  tabernacles,  one  for  thee  and  one  for  Moses  and  one 
for  Elias."  Rev.  Dr.  Wisher,  of  the  Mount  Olivet  Bap- 
tist Church,  Brooklyn,  preached  the  evening  sermon. 
Preaching  services  were  held  every  evening  the  following 
week.  The  meetings  were  well  attended  and  were  the 
means  of  stimulating  the  congregation  to  renewed  activity 
and  devotion  to  church  work.  The  committee  of  arrange- 
ments for  those  and  also  for  the  dedicatory  services  were  : 
C.  S.  Fariess,  chairman  :  H.  Evans,  R.  Pollard,  J.  Scott, 
p..  R.  Bailey,  and  R.  Pollard,  Jr. 

The  successive  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  :  Rev. 
R.  D.  Wynn,  Rev.  Joseph  Francis,  Rev.  William  S.  Bass, 
Rev.  Joseph  Miller  (deceased),  Rev.  Joseph  Bailey,  and 
Rev.  Abraham  B.  Brown,  the  latter  from  August  i,  1886, 
to  September  5,  1889. 

The  present  pastor  of  this  church.  Rev.  Alexander  M. 
Conway,  was  born  in  Virginia,  July  5,  1846.  After  a  varied 
experience  he  became  converted  and  was  baptized  and  uni- 
ted with  the  First  Colored  Baptist  Church  of  Danville,  Va., 
in  1866.  He  obtained  his  early  education  while  working  at 
his  trade  as  a  carpenter  and  attending  night-school. 

In  1870  he  was  admitted  to  the  theological  class  of 
the. Richmond  Institute,  Va.,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years,  during  which  time  he  organized  four  Sunday-schools 
and   spent  his  vacation  in  preaching.     In  1875  he  was  or- 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST  CHURCH.  479 

dained  to  the  gospel  ministry  in  the  First  Colored  Baptist 
Church  of  Danville.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  became 
pastor  of  the  First  Colored  Baptist  Church  of  Salisbury, 
N.  C,  and  served  as  its  pastor  for  four  years.  During  those 
years  the  membership  of  the  church  and  Sunday-school  was 
greatly  increased  and  the  church  property  was  purchased. 
It  was  during  his  pastorate  of  that  church  that  he  served 
as  secretary  of  the  Rawan  Baptist  Association.  In  1879  ^^ 
was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Colored  Baptist 
Church  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

His  pastorate  of  more  than  eleven  years  of  that  church 
was  most  successful  in  its  results  ;  many  precious  souls 
were  added  to  the  church.  One  thousand  dollars  was  ex- 
pended in  improvements  on  the  church  property,  and  on 
his  resignation  of  the  pastorate  $1,700  was  in  the  church 
treasury  towards  the  erection  of  a  new  church  edifice. 
During  this  pastorate  two  churches  and  four  Sunday-schools 
were  organized. 

Rev.  Mr.  Conway  was  twice  the  Secretary  of  the  Col- 
ored Baptist  State  Convention,  and  at  one  time  its  Vice-Pres- 
ident. He  was  also  the  Vice-President  of  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict Baptist  Association.  He  also  served  as  President  of 
the  Wilmington  Colored  Missionary  Association,  and  was 
appointed  delegate  by  that  association  to  represent  it  in 
the  North  Carolina  Missionary  Association  at  their  annual 
convocation.  In  February,  1890,  Mr.  Conway  was  called 
and  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Messiah  Baptist  Church 
of  Yonkers.  His  brief  pastorate  of  this  church  has  been 
fruitful  in  its  results.  Twenty-five  persons  have  been  added 
to  the  membership  of  the  church,  and  he  has  succeeded  in 
uniting  the  church  in  active,  aggressive  Christian  effort. 
His  superintendency  of  the  Sunday-school  has  been  espe- 
cially gratifying  and  successful. 

The  officers  of  the  church  are  :  Albert  Roberts,  Henry 
Evans,  Reuben  Pollard,  Heath  Scay,  and  E.  Thornton,  dea- 
cons ;  Wm.  Holme,  J.  W.  Ackerman,  Samuel  Dinsmore, 
Charles  S.  Fariess,  Richard  Pollard,  Nelson  Ja5^cox,  and 
H.  H.  Howard,  trustees.  The  officers  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees are :  Rev.  C.  S.  Fariess,  President :  J.  W.  Ackerman, 
Treasurer;    Richard  Pollard,  Secretary.    The  membership 


48o  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

of  the  church,  as  reported  in  the  minutes  of  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  New  England  Baptist  Missionary  Conven- 
tion, 1890,  is  81. 

The  Woman's  Missionary  Circle  of  the  church  was 
organized  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  Colgate,  in  July,  1888,  with  Mrs. 
Lucy  Scay  as  President,  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Maltby  as  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  and  twelve  contributing  members.  The 
circle  is  still  in  its  infancy,  but  gives  promise  of  usefulness 
and  growing  stability. 

The  communion  service  was  presented  by  Rev.  R.  D. 
AVynn.  The  organist  of  the  church  is  Miss  Josephine  Malt- 
by.    The  sexton  is  Edward  Bush. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  was  founded  in  the  summer  of  1874 
by  Mrs.  Harriet  Moore,  who  was  assisted  in  her  work  by 
John  H.  and  Agnes  Travis.  The  first  place  of  meeting 
was  Townsend  Hall,  on  North  Broadway.  The  school  was 
opened  with  six  pupils.  Mrs.  Moore,  with  her  associate 
helper,  had  charge  of  this  school  for  one  year.  She  was 
an  earnest,  faithful  worker.  Under  her  labors  the  school  in- 
creased to  about  twenty  pupils.  The  school  appears  to  have 
decreased  in  number  after  Mrs.  Moore  removed  from  the 
city  in  the  following  year,  until  it  was  abandoned  altogether. 

R.  D.  Cheek  succeeded  Mrs.  Moore  as  superintendent. 
A  letter  received  from  him,  under  date  of  Philadelphia,  July 
7,  1889,  contains  this  statement:  "  I  found  no  Sunday-school 
work  among  colored  children  at  Yonkers  at  all.  In  the 
month  of  May,  1881, 1  organized  the  present  Messiah  Baptist 
Sunday-school.  Miss  Lucy  Peel  was  chosen  secretary. 
Henry  Peel,  P.  Scott,  and  Mrs.  H.  Peel  and  Mrs.  R.  Bailey, 
and  one  or  two  others  were  my  teachers.  The  school  when 
I  left  it  numbered  about  thirty-five  scholars." 

Henry  Travis  followed  Mr.  Cheek  as  superintendent. 
Rev.  Thomas  Scott  was  the  next  superintendent,  and  the 
school  prospered  under  his  care.  His  assistants  were  Misses 
Rittick,  Louisa  Wheaton,  Lucy  Brown  and  Eva  Samuels, 
and  others  whose  names  cannot  be  ascertained.  Mr.  Scott's 
successor  was  Rev.  Charles  S.  Fariess,  who  entered  the 
school  as  a  pupil  in  July,  1881. 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST  CHURCH.  48 1 

Mr.  Fariess  assumed  the  superintendency  of  the  school 
at  the  urgent  request  of  the  friends  of  the  church  and  Sun- 
day-school in  January,  1882,  which  had  at  that  time  again 
decreased  rapidly  in  numbers,  there  being  then  but  thir- 
teen regular  scholars.  Under  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Fariess 
and  of  the  helpers,  the  school  has  attained  to  its  present 
prosperous  condition,  its  number  having  increased  to  sev- 
enty-eight pupils,  as  the  record-book  shows. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Fariess,  for  his  long  term  of  service 
in  connection  with  this  school,  is  among  the  list  of  honorary 
Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

In  November,  1887,  the  school  numbered  thirty-five 
and  the  officers  were  :  H.  Howard,  Superintendent  ;  Miss 
Lucy  Scay,  Secretary ;  Matthew  Davis,  Librarian.  There 
were  nine  in  the  infant  class. 

The  number  who  united  with  the  church  from  the 
school  in  1887  was  four. 

The  following  account  of  the  exercises  of  the  Sunday- 
school  anniversary,  which  was  held  Monday  evening,  May 
21,  1888,  is  written  by  William  H.  Duers : 

The  anniversary  was  held  in  Townsend  Hall.  It  was 
doubly  interesting  and  important  as  being  the  work  of  sev- 
eral years'  growth,  and  it  being  the  last  time  that  the  school 
would  meet  there  previous  to  the  occupancy  of  their  new 
Sunday-school  room  on  Ashburton  Place,  which  they  hoped 
to  occupy  the  following  Sunday. 

Quite  a  large  gathering  "vtas  present  at  the  opening 
prayer,  a  number  having  to  stand.  The  exercises  con- 
sisted of  singing,  recitations,  and  readings,  which  were 
carried  on  by  the  children  in  a  very  pleasant  and  lively 
manner.  The  school  sang  from  their  Sunday-school  book, 
"  The  Fount  of  blessing,"  "  Let  us  shine,"  and  "  Must  I  go 
empty-handed  ?" 

Henry  E.  Duers  read  an  essay  on  the  "  History  of  the 
church  and  Sunday-school." 

Rev.  William  Smith  Bass,  the  pastor  of  1 88 1 ,  spoke  of 
the  school  from  his  date  and  of  the  joyful  change  which 
was  about  to  take  place.  He  gave  excellent  advice  to  the 
younger  scholars,  and  exhorted  the  parents  to  set  a  good 
example  perpetually  before  their  children.     He  also  spoke 


482  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

of  the  advantages  we  were  about  to  enjoy  as  a  people  in 
the  new  church.  His  words  were  very  instructive  and 
helpful  to  his  audience,  which  showed  their  appreciation 
by  their  earnest  attention. 

Charles  S.  Fariess,  the  superintendent,  spoke  of  his  seven 
years'  experience  in  the  school.  He  said  the  school  had 
suffered  many  changes  in  its  membership,  and  that  in  the 
present  audience  he  could  not  see  any  one  who  had  been 
there  steadily  since  he  had  been  connected  with  it.  Sad 
was  the  ever-changing  spectacle  every  year,  the  old  famil- 
iar faces  dropping  out  and  strangers  taking  their  places. 
"  When  I  first  came  to  Yonkers,  though  having  formerly 
been  a  teacher,  I  took  my  place  as  a  scholar  in  the  class  of 
a  lady  whom  I  now  see  before  me  (then  Miss  Eva  Samuels, 
now  Mrs.  John  Lisby).  After  a  while  I  came  up  to  the 
office  that  I  now  hold  through  the  kindness  of  my  friends. 
In  this  position  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty  as  well  as 
I  could.  It  makes  me  happy  to  know  that  a  change  is  about 
to  take  place,  and  that  we  will  all  be  very  happy,  and  I  trust 
useful,  in  our  new  Sunday-school  room." 

These  very  enjoyable  exercises  were  closed  by  a  duet 
by  Henry  H.  Duers  and  his  son,  William  Duers. 

The  school  occupied  their  room  in  the  new  church 
edifice  for  the  first  time  on  Sunday  afternoon,  June  10,  1888. 
The  opening  exercises  began  by  singing  "Come  to  the 
Saviour,"  which  was  followed  by  the  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
ture lesson  for  the  day,  Matt.  28: 16-25,  and  prayer  by  the 
assistant  superintendent,  Wm.  Meekly.  Charles  S.  Fariess, 
the  superintendent,  made  a  few  remarks  upon  the  subject 
of  the  lesson,  "  The  Great  Command  :  Go  ye  therefore  and 
teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  and  mentioned  that 
at  the  morning  service  three  of  the  pupils  and  others  from 
the  congregation  "  had  been  buried  in  the  likeness  of  Christ 
in  baptism  and  rose  to  newness  of  life." 

The  persons  referred  to  were  Mrs.  Henrietta  Thornton, 
Catherine  Johnson,  Rebecca  Rose,  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  the 
former  being  a  teacher  and  the  latter  pupils  in  the  school, 
and- those  of  the  congregation  were  Mr.  Qeenan  and  Rich- 
ard Pollard. 


MESSIAH   BAPTIST   CHURCH.  483 

At  the  close  of  the  lesson  the  superintendent  introduced 
Thomas  H.  Messer  as  one  of  their  old  and  tried  friends, 
who  had  assisted  them  so  many  times  by  his  presence,  in- 
structions, and  gifts  in  their  old  building. 

Mr.  Messer  responded  in  brief  congratulatory  remarks. 
Cornelius  Callahan,  a  Bible-class  teacher  in  the  Nepperhan 
Avenue  Baptist  Mission  School,  was  called  upon  to  make  a 
few  remarks,  which  he  did  in  a  very  pleasant  and  interest- 
ing manner. 

Elder  Christopher  Brown,  of  New  York,  was  introduced 
and  made  a  short  address.  He  was  followed  by  Elmer 
L.  Manning,  who  was  the  last  speaker  on  this  auspicious 
occasion.  "  This  is  a  great  surprise  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Man- 
ning. "  I  wonder  if  I  am  not  lost  ?  Is  this  the  right  room 
I  have  gotten  into,  Mr.  Superintendent?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  superintendent.  "  You  are  all  right. 
This  is  our  new  Sunday-school  room." 

"  Some  one  has  whispered  to  me,"  continued  Mr.  Man- 
ning, "  that  James  B.  Colgate  gave  you  this  beautiful  house 
of  worship,  this  splendid  Sunday-school  room,  which  my 
brother  has  well  said  '  is  second  to  none  of  all  the  Sunday- 
school  rooms  in  Yonkers.  Now  Mr.  Colgate  is  a  very  be- 
nevolent, a  religious,  a  liberal  and  large-hearted  man  ;  but 
in  one  sense  he  did  not  give  you  this  room.  Mr.  Colgate's 
Heavenly  Father  and  your  Heavenly  Father  gave  it  to  you. 
And  why  did  he  give  you  this  place  ?  Because  you  have  a 
soul.  God's  object  is  to  save  souls  in  giving  you  this  house. 
He  wants  you  to  grow  up  strong  men  and  women  in  Christ 
by  the  teaching  you  receive  here.  What  a  wonderful  differ- 
ence there  is  between  this  room  and  the  old  room  where 
you  used  to  meet !  This,  with  its  Bible-class  room  and  all  its 
appointments,  is  so  superior.  God  did  this  for  you.  And 
he  used  his  honored  servant,  Mr.  Colgate,  to  give  it  to  you. 
Your  place  is  changed,  but  not  your  faces ;  they  are  just 
the  same  as  in  the  old  place.  Do  you  know  you  have  re- 
newed responsibility?  God  will  certainly  expect  more  of 
you  here  than  there.  Be  more  faithful ;  study  your  Bible 
more  ;  be  more  devoted  in  prayer  and  do  better  work.  I 
feel  confident  that  you  will.  God  expects  abundant  fruit. 
Christ  is  your  example.      He  is  a  loving  Saviour.     His  Hfe 


484  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

would  have  been  utterly  worthless  if  he  had  not  risen. 
Paul  is  a  great  theologian.  Hear  what  he  says :  '  If  in 
this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most 
miserable.'  '  If  ye  then  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those 
things  which  are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  on  the  right 
hand  of  God.'  Be  faithful  servants  in  God's  vineyard. 
You  have  a  great  field  of  usefulness  here.  We  have  some- 
times heard  that  a  second  Baptist  Church  is  wanted  in 
Yonkers.  This  is  the  second  Baptist  Church.  God  bless 
you  all !     God  be  with  you  !" 

A  very  profitable  and  pleasing  feature  of  this  memorable 
occasion  was  the  recitation  of  Bible  verses  by  the  teachers 
and  pupils.  And  the  members  of  the  primary  department 
recited  each  individually.  One  little  girl  of  five  years 
recited  clearly  and  readily  the  verse,  "  In  my  Father's  house 
are  many  mansions,"  etc. 

The  impressive  exercises  closed  by  the  singing  of 
"  I  am  nearing  the  gates  of  the  city,  yon  city  so  bright  and 
so  fair." 

The  first  Christmas  festival  in  their  new  Sunday-school 
room  was  held  December  27,  1888,  when  after  a  programme 
of  singing,  recitations,  etc.,  the  distribution  of  gifts  to  the 
primary  class  by  Superintendent  Fariess  closed  the  pleas- 
ant exercises. 

The  school  contributed  for  benevolence  during  1888, 
$10  50  and  in  1889,  $11. 

The  eighty  members  of  the  school  had  a  merry  time 
at  their  festival  on  Christmas,  1889.  Many  of  the  children 
recited  or  sang,  and  there  was  much  caroling  by  the  school. 
Superintendent  C.  S.  Fariess  presided.  Books  and  toys 
gladdened  the  young  people's  hearts. 

The  superintendents  of  this  school,  so  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, in  the  order  of  service  have  been :  Mrs.  Sarah  Moore, 
1873-74;  R.  D.  Cheek,  Rev.  Thomas  Scott,  Henry  Travis, 
Rev.  Charles  S.  Fariess,  elected  January  i,  1882.  Mr.  Far- 
iess was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  at  the  Messiah 
Baptist  Church,  April  18,  1889.  Rev.  AlvahS.  Hobart,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Warburton  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  was  the 
moderator  of  the  council,  and  Rev.  J.  G.  Shrive,  clerk.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  F.  R.  Morse,  Rev.  E.  T. 


MESSIAH    BAPTIST   CHURCH.  485 

Curtice  offered  the  prayer  of  ordination,  Rev  A.  B.  Brown 
gave  the  hand  of  fellowship,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Bailey  the 
charge  to  the  candidate.  On  November  16,  1889,  Rev. 
Charles  S.  Fariess  was  appointed  by  the  New  England 
Baptist  Missionary  Convention,  held  in  New  York  city, 
missionary  to  the  second  district,  with  headquarters  at 
Yonkers. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Fariess  resigned  the  superintendency 
of  the  Sunday-school  in  January,  1890,  and  was  succeeded 
by  William  H.  Duers. 

The  officers  of  the'school  are  :  Rev.  Alexander  M.  Con- 
way, Superintendent ;  Miss  Kittie  L.  Mills,  Assistant  Su- 
perintendent;  Mrs.  Wesley  Allen,  Secretary;  Miss  Kittie 
L.  Mills,  Assistant  Secretary  ;  Albert  H.  Roberts,  Treasurer ; 
Albert  Davis,  Librarian  ;  William  Mann,  Assistant  Libra- 
rian. 

The  record-book  for  1889,  '90,  '91,  includes  the  follow- 
ing teachers :  Miss  May  B.  Henderson,  Mrs.  Eston  Thorn- 
ton, Miss  Julia  Hill,  Mr.  Albert  Roberts,  Mr.  Aaron  Bolden, 
Miss  Kate  Mills,  Miss  Celia  Jones,  Miss  Sarah  White,  Miss 
Gertrude  Lyon,  and  Miss  Allen. 

The  primary  class  is  taught  by  Mrs.  Eston  Thornton, 
and  numbers  sixteen  pupils.  The  paper,  "  Our  Little  Ones," 
is  distributed  in  the  class  every  Sunday. 

The  present  enrolment  of  scholars  is  seventy-five ; 
average  attendance  fifty.  The  lesson  helps  used  are  from 
the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society.  The  singing 
books  used  are  "The  Gospel  Praise  Book,"  "Vineyard 
Songs,"  and  "  Moody  and  Sankey  Hymns." 


486  CHURCH    AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE  GLENWOOD    SUMMER   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  was  organized  by  Henry  Stearns, 
July  II,  1875,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  Sunday-school 
advantages  to  the  children  who  resided  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  town  of  Yonkers,  and  who  did  not  attend  any  Sun- 
day-school. The  first  session  of  the  school  was  held  in  the 
parlor  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  StearnS,  on  Glenwood  Avenue 
near  Warburton  Avenue.  Its  meetings  were  held  in  the 
"  Bloomer  Cottage"  until  October  of  the  same  year,  when 
Mr.  Stearns  removed  to  New  York.  It  was  then  closed  for 
the  winter  and  was  reopened  the  following  summer  at  the 
residence  of  Henry  Bowers,  on  Warburton  Avenue.  At  Mr. 
Stearns'  especial  request,  Mrs.  Louise  W.  Bowers  and  her 
sister  Miss  Kate  Willard  assumed  the  charge  of  it.  These 
ladies  took  a  very  deep  interest  in  this  mission  enterprise. 

An  adult  Bible-class  was  conducted  by  Wm.  A.  Gibson. 
Among  the  reports  gathered  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  Yon- 
kers during  the  centennial  year,  February,  1876,  the  follow- 
ing statistics  are  given  of  this  little  school :  Officers,  i ,  teach- 
ers, 8 ;  scholars  on  register,  65  ;  average  attendance,  50 ;  in 
adult  Bible-class,  20.  The  teachers  are :  Mrs.  Henry  Bow- 
ers, Mrs.  Thomas  Franklin,  Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Shonnard,  Miss 
Kate  Willard,  Miss  Margaret  Bloomer,  Messrs.  Wm.  A.  Gib- 
son, Allen  Taylor,  and  Richard  W.  Bogart.  William  A. 
Gibson  acts  in  the  triple  capacity  of  superintendent,  treas- 
urer, and  librarian.  Miss  Nellie  Wetmore,  Miss  Bowers, 
Miss  Emma  Utter,  and  John  N.  Stearns,  Jr.,  also  taught  in 
this  school  during  its  history.  The  lessons  taught  were 
from  the  Old  Testament  history,  and  the  hymn-book  used 
was  "  Winnowed  Songs." 

The  school  was  undenominational  in  its  character.  The 
Rev.  H.  M.  Sanders,  the  pastor  of  the  Warburton  Avenue 
Baptist  Church,  is  recalled  as  taking  a  hearty  interest  in  it. 
How  long  the  school  was  maintained  cannot  be  definitely 
ascertained,  but  probably  at  least  three  years,  and  was  held 
only  during  the  summer  months. 


GERMAN    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  487 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

GERMAN    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  the  outgrowth  of  its  Sunday-school, 
which  was  organized  in  1880.  Its  first  religious  services 
were  held  early  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  in  the  hall 
occupied  by  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union, 
in  a  building  on  South  Broadway,  opposite  Hudson  Street, 
the  site  of  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  handsome  station 
of  the  New  York  and  Northern  Railway. 

The  first  sermon  to  this  society  was  delivered  by  Rev. 
John  J.  Messmer,  of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y.  This  discourse 
was  listened  to  by  three  auditors,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herman 
H.  Kroenke  and  Mrs.  Augusta  Krah.  The  congregation 
worshipped  in  that  hall  for  about  two  years,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Humboldt  Hall,  New  Main  Street,  which  place 
they  occupied  for  five  years,  till  their  removal  to  their 
new  and  attractive  church  building,  located  on  the  corner 
of  Waverly  and  Maple  Streets,  on  Sunday,  December  1 1 , 
1887. 

The  morning  service  was  conducted  by  Rev.  G.  Abele, 
presiding  elder  of  the  German  Methodist  Conference  of 
New  York. 

An  instructive  and  impressive  discourse  was  preached 
by  Mr.  Abele  from  these  words :  "  And  he  was  afraid, 
and  said  :  How  dreadful  is  this  place  !  This  is  none  other 
but  the  house  of  God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven." 
Gen.  28:  17. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  took  palce  at  3  :  30  P.  m.,  and 
were  conducted  by  Presiding  Elder  Abele.  They  com- 
menced with  singing,  in  German,  by  the  choir,  of  three 
selections  from  the  church  hymn-book,  "  Psalter  and  Harp." 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison  offered  the  dedicator}^  prayer, 
which  was  followed  by  the  singing  of  "  All  Hail  the  power 
of  Jesus'  Name." 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole, 
Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge,  Rev.  John  Reid  and  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison. 


488  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Rev.  George  H.  Geiger,  the  pastor,  read  the  financial 
statement  of  the  work  on  the  new  building  and  its  cost. 
The  church  purchased  three  lots  for  $2,400.  Rudolph 
Eickemeyer  bought  one  lot  from  them  to  aid  the  enter- 
prise. Marvin  R.  Oakley  contracted  to  build  the  church 
for  $2,350,  and  he  had  contributed  $200  towards  the  fund. 
The  mason  work  had  been  done  by  James  Scott  at  a  cost 
of  $739  88.  The  amount  yet  to  be  raised  was  $2,700.  The 
First  Methodist  Church  of  Yonkers  donated  their  old  church 
building,  portions  of  which,  the  pulpit,  pews,  gallery,  and 
altar  rail,  were  used  in  the  construction  of  their  new  build- 
ing. 

The  exercises  closed  with  the  doxology,  and  a  benedic- 
tion by  Rev.  Dr.  Strobridge. 

In  the  evening  the  preaching  was  in  German,  as  it 
was  in  the  morning.  Rev.  H.  Kastendieck,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  delivered  the  sermon. 

In  response  to  the  third  appeal  the  people  subscribed 
over  $300  towards  the  church  building  fund,  the  entire 
amount  raised  during  the  three  church  services  being  about 
$900,  of  which  the  members  of  the  congregation  contrib- 
uted $600. 

Many  of  the  collections  towards  this  new  church  enter- 
prise were  made  by  the  pastor  and  a  few  of  his  church 
members,  gathered  after  many  a  weary  day  of  hard  work, 
much  of  it  in  small  sums  of  five  and  ten  cents. 

The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  passed  by 
the  Trustees  of  this  church  on  December  14,  1887  : 

Whereas,  The  trustees  of  the  German  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  acknowledge  the  deep  sympathy  which  the 
citzens  of  Yonkers  manifested  towards  them  in  the  work  of 
erecting  their  church  edifice  ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  heartiest  thanks  to  the 
Yonkers  public  for  the  liberal  support  given  us  in  our  efforts 
to  secure  a  home  in  which  we  can  worship  God  in  our  own 
tongue  and  lead  our  fellow-countrymen  to  the  Saviour  of 
men  ;  to  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Yonkers  for  the  use  of  their  pews  for  five  years ;  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Yon- 
kers for  the  gift  of  the  church  in  which  they  worshipped 


GERMAN    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  489 

for  many  years,  the  material  of  which  was  utilized  in  the 
erection  of  said  German  M.  E.  Church. 

The  debt  on  the  church  property  in  December,  1887, 
was  $1,800.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  congregation,  who 
were  assisted  by  a  number  of  their  friends  from  other 
churches  in  the  city,  among  whom  were  several  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  who  contributed  liberally,  the 
debt  was  paid  in  the  spring  of  1888,  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  George  H.  Geiger.  His  pastorate  of  two  years  was 
a  very  successful  one  in  building  up  the  church  to  a  health- 
ful spiritual  state  and  in  improving  its  financial  condition. 
The  payment  of  the  indebtedness  was  due  in  a  great  degree 
to  his  energy  and  financial  skill.  The  present  valuation  of 
the  church  property  is  $7,000. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  Rev.  John  J. 
Messmer,  its  first  pastor,  1 880-81  ;  Rev.  Ernest  Hartmann, 
1882-83;  Rev.  Chas.  A.  Brockmeier,  1883-84;  Rev.  Henry 
Miller,  1885-86;  Rev.  George  H.  Geiger,  1887-89;  Charles 
A.  Brockmeier,  1889-90;  Rev.  Emil  Peglow,  August,  1889, 
to  date. 

The  late  pastor.  Rev.  Chas.  A.  Brockmeier,  was  born 
in  Hilli,  county  of  Minden,  kingdom  of  Prussia,  Germany, 
August  28,  1827.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1852,  studied 
for  a  number  of  years  in  the  cities  of  Schenectady  and 
New  York,  was  ordained  a  deacon  April  17,  1864,  at  the 
annual  Conference  in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  ordained  an 
elder  in  Philadelphia  in  April,  1869.  He  has  been  a  travel- 
ling preacher  in  the  East  German  Conference  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years,  and  was  sent  in  the  spring  of  1889 
from  Greenfield,  Mass.,  to  the  German  M.  E.  Church  of 
Yonkers. 

The  church  was  incorporated  in  1882,  the  first  trustees 
being  J.  William  Bauer,  Henry  Bauer,  Herman  H.  Kroenke, 
Jacob  Genzlinger,  and  Sida  H.  Wicht. 

The  present  Board  of  Trustees  is  composed  of  Otto 
Schulz,  President ;  John  William  Bauer,  vSecretary  ;  Charles 
Losell,  Treasurer ;  Rudolf  Eickemeyer,  Herman  H.  Kroenke, 
Otto  Schulz,  Henry  Wicht,  and  George  Aulenbacker. 

The  membership  of  the  church  is  fifty. 

The  officers  of  the  Ladies*  Aid  Society  are :  Mrs.  Otto 


490  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Schulz,  President ;  Mrs.  Henrietta  Kroenke,  Secretary ; 
Mrs.  Henry  Wicht,  treasurer. 

The  first  Bible  was  loaned  to  the  church  by  Henry 
Kroenke.  It  was  a  family  Bible  and  was  returned  well 
worn  when  the  present  Bible  was  presented  by  John  Kopp, 
in  commemoration  of  his  wedding.  1884.  Miss  L.  Genz- 
linger  gave  a  handsome  Bible  bookmark. 

Miss  Henrietta  Kroenke  served  as  organist  for  seven 
years.  The  present  organist  is  Miss  Theresa  Schulz.  The 
choir  consists  of  Mrs.  Bertha  Miller,  Miss  Henrietta  Klein, 
and  Miss  Dena  Miller,  soprano ;  Miss  Emma  Neininger 
and  Miss  Amelia  Genzlinger,  alto :  Rev.  Emil  W.  Peg- 
low  and  Albert  Losel,  tenor ;  and  Jacob  and  John  Zoeller, 
bass. 

The  sexton  is  Herman  H.  Kroenke,  who  has  served 
the  church  in  that  capacity  for  seven  years. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  was  organized  on  Sunday  after- 
noon, August  29,  1880,  by  Rev.  John  J.  Messmer,  of  Mount 
Vernon,  N.  Y.,  in  the  hall  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union.  The  following  persons  were  present  be- 
sides Pastor  Messmer :  Herman  H.  Kroenke,  Albert  Teck- 
lenburg,  John  Johnson,  Frank  Knapper,  Mrs.  August 
Krah,  Mrs.  Dorothea  Kroenke,  Mrs.  Dorothea  Schrag,  and 
Louise  Krumlauf,  all  of  whom  offered  their  services  as 
teachers.  John  Kopp  was  chosen  superintendent.  The 
number  of  scholars  was  four.  The  pastor  remarked  to 
these  willing  workers  that  it  was  rather  an  unusual  cir- 
cumstance that  a  Sunday-school  began  with  more  teach- 
ers than  scholars,  and  bade  them  not  to  be  discouraged, 
that  in  due  time  their  services  would  be  required  for  the 
classes  which  were  being  prepared  for  them.  His  proph- 
ecy was  soon  fulfilled,  for  on  the  second  Sunday  the  num- 
ber of  scholars  was  doubled,  and  after  that  three  more 
pupils  were  added  to  the  school  each  successive  Sunday 
until  Christmas  of  1880,  when  the  school  numbered  fifty- 
two  pupils. 

A  few  week  previous  to  the  celebration  of  their  first 
Christmas   festival   one  of   the  teachers  remarked  to   the 


GERMAN    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  49I 

superintendent,  "  We  have  the  scholars,  but  where  are  the 
presents  for  them  to  come  from?"  The  superintendent 
replied,  "  The  Lord  has  given  us  the  children,  and  he  will 
provide  the  gifts  needed."  The  faith  and  efforts  of  the 
superintendent  and  others,  who  also  possessed  a  like  faith 
and  trust,  were  rewarded,  for  on  the  day  of  the  celebration 
of  this  festival  they  had  more  gifts  than  were  required  to 
supply  the  children,  some  of  them  receiving  two  gifts  and 
several  three. 

The  Sunday-school  met  in  Temperance  Hall  for  about 
two  years,  when  they  removed  to  Humboldt  Hall,  where 
they  remained  for  five  years. 

The  Sunday-school  during  the  superintendency  of 
Henry  Bauer,  in  Humboldt  Hall,  was  in  a  very  prosperous 
condition.  It  had  an  enrolment  of  one  hundred  pupils  in 
1886,  and  a  number  were  added  to  the  church  from  the 
school  during  that  year.  In  1887  the  school  decreased  con- 
siderably in  its  attendance.  Three  pupils  from  the  school 
united  with  the  church  during  that  year. 

On  December  11,  1887,  at  2  :  30  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Sunday-school  gathered  for  the  first  time  in  the  new 
church.  Pastor  Geiger,  as  superintendent,  gave  out  the 
hymn  "  Rock  of  Ages,"  and  addresses  were  made  by  Henry 
M.  Rudolph  and  John  Kopp,  of  Mount  A-^ernon,  and  by  the 
pastor.  These  interesting  services  were  closed  by  singing 
the  hymn  "  O  wondrous  love  !" 

The  first  Christmas  festival  of  the  school  held  in  the 
new  church  was  on  Christmas  afternoon  of  1888.  The  ex- 
ercises consisted  of  carols  and  recitations  by  a  number  of 
the  children  of  the  school.  A  Christmas  cantata  was  well 
rendered  by  Misses  Amelia  and  Clara  Genzlinger,  Emma 
Neininger,  Barbara  Zoeller,  Theresa  Schulz,  and  Minnie 
Genzlinger,  the  latter  of  whom  presided  at  the  organ. 

A  dialogue  entitled  "  Our  Christmas  Tree,"  by  a  teach- 
er and  her  class  of  boys,  was  a  pleasing  feature  of  this  oc- 
casion.    It  was  followed  by  the  carol  "  Christmas  Offering." 

A  little  girl  of  five  years,  Fannie  Boehmer,  who  recit- 
ed very  sweetly,  "  I  am  little  and  my  heart  is  true ;  nobody 
shall  live  in  it  but  Jesus  alone,"  and  the  singing  of  the  carol 
"  Hosana  in  the  Highest,"  followed. 


492  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  handsome  transparency  of  a  beautiful  star,  which 
was  placed  behind  the  pulpit  on  the  wall,  contained  the 
words  "  The  Song  of  the  Angels,"  and  was  a  marked  at- 
traction of  the  decorations  of  the  church  on  that  occasion. 

The  distribution  of  the  Christmas  gifts  from  the  hand- 
somely decorated  tree,  by  Superintendent  Kroenke,  closed 
the  exercises. 

The  annual  picnic  of  1888  was  held  on  July  11.  Stages 
from  Getty  Square  conveyed  the  children  and  friends  of 
the  school  to  Coddington's  farm,  South  Broadway.  The 
number  in  attendance  was  about  three  hundred.  The 
amount  raised  that  year  was  $25. 

The  Christmas  festival  of  1 889  was  held  in  the  church 
on  Christmas  day.  Herman  Kroenke,  the  superintendent, 
presided.  Rev.  Charles  Brockmeier,  the  pastor,  made  the 
opening  prayer.  Recitations  were  given  by  Annie  Bern- 
hardt, Theresa  Schulz,  Barbara  Zoeller,  Millie  Genzlinger, 
Annie  Haffner,  Oscar  Bauer,  Annie  Marks,  Rudolph  Bauer, 
Emil  Wohlfart,  Henry  and  John  Zoeller,  Lena  Miller, 
and  Mary  Bush.  Charles  Brockmeier,  Millie  Genzlinger, 
Paul  Schulz,  and  Henrietta  Kroenke  sang  the  quartette 
"  Honor  to  the  Lord  on  High."  Another  quartette  was  sung 
by  Charles  Brockmeier,  Paul  and  Theresa  Schulz,  and  Clara 
Genzlinger.  "  The  Christmas  Tree  in  Heaven"  was  sung 
by  Annie  Marks. 

Sixty-three  children  were  made  happy  by  Christmas 
presents.  Superintendent  and  teachers  were  remembered. 
A  handsome  framed  picture  of  "  Christ  Before  Pilate"  was 
presented  to  the  pastor,  and  the  organist.  Miss  Kroenke, 
received  a  silver  watch. 

The  amount  given  by  the  school  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses in  1887  was  $30;  in  1888,  $25  ;  from  January,  1889, 
to  August,  1889,  $9  91.  On  Children's  Day  in  June,  1889, 
the  amount  contributed  was  $5.  The  school  contributes  $100 
annually  for  benevolent  objects. 

The  Literary  Society  of  this  church  and  Sunday-school 
was  organized  by  Pastor  Henry  Miller  in  1886.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are  :  Paul  Schulz,  President ;  Miss  Sophia  Reitz, 
Secretary  ;  Charles  Eberley,  Treasurer.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  thirty.    Meetings  of  the  society  are  held  monthly. 


GERMAN   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  493 

On  Thursday  evening,  March  14,  1889,  that  society  held  a 
concert  for  the  benefit  of  the  church.  The  instrumental 
music  was  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Libbie  Biggerstaff , 
Grover  G.  Cox,  and  James  Pearce,  M.  B.  The  selections 
were  from  Schubert,  Pinsuti,  and  Thomas.  The  exercises 
consisted  of  songs,  duets,  and  recitations,  the  following  per- 
sons taking  part :  Mrs.  A.  F.  Barrett,  Sophia  Reitz,  Amelia 
Genzlinger,  Lillie  Sclumbs,  Jennie  Allen,  Lizzie  Gorman, 
the  Misses  King,  iVustin,  and  Nealy,  Misses  Kroenke  and 
Rudolph,  Wm.  C.  Hoff,  Frank  Beer,  Charles  Eberley,  Otto 
and  Paul  Schulz,  Jacob  Zoeller,  and  Rev.  Charles  E.  Allison. 
The  proceeds  w^ere  $75. 

The  primary  department  of  the  school  is  taught  by 
Miss  Henrietta  Kroenke,  and  numbers  thirty  pupils,  with 
an  average  attendance  of  twenty.  The  helps  used  in  this 
department  are  the  "  A.  B.  C.  Reading  Lessons  "  and  "  Scrip- 
ture Charts." 

The  enrolment  of  scholars  in  August,  1889,  was  135, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  90. 

Herman  H.  Kroenke,  of  this  school,  is  on  the  honorary 
list  of  Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

The  Sunday-school  help  is  "  Der  Bibelforscher,"  or 
"  Bible  Teacher."  The  singing  book  is  the  "  Psalter  and 
Harp."     The  paper  distributed  is  "  Die  Glocke." 

Teachers'  meetings  are  held  monthly.  Number  of 
books  in  the  library,  156. 

The  following  persons,  in  the  order  of  their  service, 
have  filled  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  school  since 
its  organization  :  John  Kopp,  Herman  H.  Kroenke,  Henry 
Bauer,  Otto  Schulz,  Rev.  George  H.  Geiger,  and  Herman  H. 
Kroenke,  the  last  being  elected  January,   1888. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are  :  Herman  H. 
Kroenke,  Superintendent ;  Otto  Schulz,  Vice-vSuperintend- 
ent ;  Franz  Koenig,  Secretary  ;  Henrietta  Kroenke,  Treas- 
urer ;  Paul  Schulz,  Librarian. 

The  teachers  are  Rev.  Emil  Peglow,  adult  Bible-class, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Wohlfarts,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Kroenke,  Mrs.  Losell, 
Miss  Mina  Haas,  Miss  Minnie  Genzlinger,  Miss  Clara  Genz- 
linger, William  Bauer,  Mr.  Losell,  Mr.  Foeller,  and  Miss 
Henrietta  Kroenke,  teacher  of  the  primary  department. 


494  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE   LUDLOW    STREET   REFORMED   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

The  chapel  building  is  located  on  Ludlow  Street.  It 
was  erected  in  the  autumn  of  1884,  principally  through 
the  enterprise  and  liberality  of  George  Stewart,  an  elder  in 
the  Reformed  Church.  Others  connected  with  this  church 
also  aided  him  in  this  new  mission  enterprise  by  their 
efforts  and  gifts. 

The  building  is  a  neat  wooden  structure  of  Gothic 
architecture,  34  by  60  feet,  with  an  extension  at  the  rear, 
and  the  plot  of  ground  upon  which  it  stands  is  75  by  100. 
It  has  two  front  entrances  between  which  is  an  arched 
stained  glass  window,  under  which  are  three  small  stained 
glass  windows.  There  is  also  an  entrance  at  the  west  side 
of  the  building. 

The  interior  is  finished  in  yellow  pine.  On  the  wall 
behind  the  pulpit  is  inscribed  the  Scripture  text,  "  The 
entrance  of  thy  word  giveth  light."  On  the  wall  to  the  left 
of  the  pulpit  are  inscribed  the  Commandments,  while  on 
the  right  hand  side  appear  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  the  Apos- 
tles' Creed. 

At  the  right  and  left  hand  sides  of  the  pulpit  are  the 
library  and  infant-class  rooms.  The  audience-room  is  fur- 
nished with  reversible  seats. 

The  value  of  the  property  is  $10,000. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  of  the  chapel  took  place  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  November  9,  1884.  They  were  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  who  preached  the  dedica- 
tory sermon  from  Genesis  28  :  17  :  "  This  is  none  other  but 
the  house  of  God."  Rev.  William  Anderson,  of  Fordham, 
Rev.  Dr.  Henry  M.  Baird,  and  Prof.  Isaac  S.  Davison,  of 
Yonkers,  took  part  in  the  exercises.  A  collection  was 
taken  and  subscriptions  were  received  in  aid  of  the  chapel 
building  fund. 

The  Consistorial  chapel  committee  were  George  Stew- 


LUDLOW    STREET   REFORMED   CHAPEL. 


495 


art,  Virgil  Myers,  Hyatt  L.  Garrison,  Isaac  N.  Cook,  and 
Walter  A.  Drinkwater. 

On  the  day  of  dedication  $250  was  given  by  friends  of 
the  mission.  An  organ  was  also  presented.  The  pulpit 
Bible  was  also  given  on  that  occasion  by  Mrs.  James  W. 
Beebe. 

When  the  chapel  was  dedicated  there  was  a  debt  of 
$3,000  on  it:  this  still  remains. 


THE   LUDLOW   STREET    REFORMED    CHAPEE. 


A  Sunday-school  was  opened  in  the  chapel  at  2 :  30  P.  M. 
on  Sunday,  November  16,  1884,  its  organization  and  direction 


496  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

being-  under  the  control  of  the  Consistory  of  the  Reformed 
Church.  The  following  were  elected  as  the  officers  of  the 
school  at  its  first  session :  George  Stewart,  Superintend- 
ent ;  Virgil  Myers,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  Walter  A. 
Drinkwater,  Secretary ;  Frank  H.  Cole,  Librarian ;  Joseph 
Hover  and  Belding  A.  Hoyt,  Assistant  Librarians  ;  Le  Grand 
W.  Ketcham,  Treasurer. 

These  persons  offered  their  services  as  teachers:  Misses 
Lillian  Dealing,  Dora  L.  Costello,  Emma  L.  Crane,  Ada 
E.  Thompkins,  Mary  E.  Berston,  Jennie  Edgar,  Jacob  D. 
Wood,  and  Virgil  Myers. 

Forty  children  were  present  at  its  first  session. 

Miss  Agnes  E.  Edgar,  Miss  Ray  A.  Campbell  and  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Beebe  were  subsequently  added  to  the  list  of  teach- 
ers. Among  these  early  teachers,  the  last  was  the  first  who 
was  called  from  her  earthly  work  to  her  heavenly  reward. 
The  following  extract  is  from  a  tribute  to  her  memory 
which  appeared  in  the  "  Christian  Intelligencer,"  written 
by  her  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole  : 

"  Miss  Beebe  was  by  nature,  character,  and  culture  such 
an  ornament  to  her  home,  and  so  fitted  and  willing  to  be 
useful  in  her  church  and  general  sphere,  that  her  removal 
in  the  prime  of  life  is  felt  by  her  mother  and  her  pastor 
and  friends  to  be  a  severe  stroke.  Having  accepted  her 
Saviour  when  very  young,  with  clear  intelligence  and  with- 
out any  reserve,  her  Christian  life  throughout  was  one  of 
ever-growing  strength  and  consecration.  She  was  a  faithful 
and  exceedingly  useful  member  of  the  Ladies'  Missionary 
Society  of  her  church,  kept  herself  acquainted  with  mis- 
sionary work  at  home  and  abroad,  and  gave  life  to  meet- 
ings by  her  contributions  and  suggestions.  And  she  loved 
to  render  any  service  in  her  power  in  any  department  of 
church  or  Sunday-school  work." 

Sunday,  October  29,  1887,  was  a  marked  occasion  for  the 
members  and  friends  of  the  school,  as  they  welcomed  the 
return  of  their  pastor  from  a  recent  European  trip.  The 
exercises  were  opened  by  singing  the  hymn  "  Jesus  High 
in  Glory."  The  Superintendent — George  Stewart — then 
read  the  Scripture  lesson,  during  the  reading  of  which  Dr. 
Cole  entered  the  room,  whereupon  the  teachers  and  scholars 


LUDLOW   STREET   REFORMED   CHAPEL.  497 

rose  and  remained  standing  as  he  passed  up  the  aisle  to  the 
Superintendent's  desk.  Dr.  Cole  thanked  them  heartily 
for  their  kind  greeting. 

At  the  Christmas  festival,  December  30,  1887,  the  chapel 
was  filled  with  the  pupils  and  friends  of  the  school.  Special 
presents  were  given  to  the  thirteen  pupils  who  had  been 
present  at  every  session  during  the  year.  Dr.  Cole  gave 
an  interesting  account  of  the  work  already  done. 

Sunday,  May,  20,  1888,  was  an  interesting  day  in  the 
Reformed  Church  and  its  Sunday-school,  it  being  the  last 
Sunday  before  the  departure  of  the  pastor  and  George 
Stewart,  the  Superintendent  of  the  primary  department 
of  the  home  school,  who  had  been  appointed  delegates 
by  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Amer- 
ica to  the  Alliance  of  the  Reformed  Churches  holding  the 
Presbyterian  system,  also  delegates  to  the  World's  Mis- 
sionary Conference,  by  the  Reformed  Church  Board  of 
Missions.  Both  of  these  great  convocations  were  held  in 
Exeter  Hall,  London,  the  former  June  9  to  19,  the  latter 
July  3  to  12. 

The  exercises  began  by  singing  "  Jesus,  Lover  of  my 
soul,"  the  recitation  of  the  Commandments,  the  Beatitudes, 
and  the  twenty-third  Psalm  in  concert. 

Dr.  Cole  asked  the  children  to  join  their  hands  and 
bow  with  him  in  asking  that  God  would  protect  and  watch 
over  the  school  during  the  absence  of  its  Superintendent, 
and  for  the  care  of  the  travellers  when  on  the  ocean  and 
v/hile  travelling  in  foreign  lands. 

Superintendent  Stewart  said:  "I  begin  to  think,  children 
what  a  good  thing  it  is  to  go  away  from  home,  for  this  rea- 
son :  we  receive  so  many  kind  expressions  and  good  words 
from  our  friends.  Ever  since  I  have  thought  of  going  away 
I  have  heard  these  words, '  I  do  not  know  how  we  are  going 
to  do  without  you,'  '  I  shall  miss  you.'  Up  at  the  church 
they  have  told  me  this  ;  my  brother  in  his  business  has 
said  this.  And  so  it  has  been  all  along  up  to  this  moment. 
And,  dear  children,  I  want  it  to  be  so.  That  is  just  the 
way  I  want  to  live,  so  after  I  am  gone  I  shall  be  missed. 
1  do  not  speak  these  words  from  personal  pride.  I  desire 
to  be  useful,  and  to  do  my  Master's  work.     And  now  good- 

Church  aod  Sunday-School  Work.  3  2 


49^  CHURCH    AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

by.     I  know  God  will  watch  over  you  and  take  care  of  you 
while  we  are  absent  from  you." 

The  school  joined  in  singing,  heartily  and  spiritedly, 
under  the  direction  of  their  leader  and  organist,  Bethune 
Reevs : 

"  Would  you  gain  the  best  in  life, 
Win  the  prize  'mid  all  the  strife  ?" 

The  usual  quietness  and  serenity  of  Ludlow  Street  was 
agreeably  interrupted  on  Monday  evening,  July  30,  1888,  the 
occasion  being  a  reception  given  by  the  Sunday-school  of 
the  Ludlow  Street  Church  to  the  Superintendent,  George 
Stewart,  and  the  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  on  their  return  from 
Europe.  Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
presided.  Dr.  Cole  offered  prayer  and  the  exercises  pro- 
ceeded according  to  programme. 

A  **  Welcome  to  Our  Pastor  and  Superintendent," 
written  by  Mrs.  Corbett,  was  delivered  by  Miss  Nesbit ; 
Messrs.  Reevs  and  Dick  played  "  Larboard  Watch"  as  a 
piano  trio ;  the  Misses  Costello  sang  "  Gently  Sighs  the 
Breeze  ;"  the  Chapel  Quartette  (composed  of  Misses  Cos- 
tello and  Nealy  and  Messrs.  Reevs  and  See)  sang  "  Mem- 
ories ;"  eight  children  of  the  Sunday-school  were  heard 
in  a  "  Welcome  Song,"  words  by  Mrs.  Corbett ;  the  exercises 
closed  with  the  quartette  singing,  "  Oh,  be  thou  faithful." 

A  few  remarks  by  Dr.  Cole  were  requested,  and  they 
were  cheerfully  given.  Superintendent  Stewart  was  then 
sought  and  found.  He  remarked  that  he  preferred  to  re- 
main as  a  spectator  and  to  take  the  part  in  silence ;  but 
he  was  brought  to  the  front,  and  made  an  excellent  prac- 
tical address,  admirably  suited  to  the  event. 

After  prayer  by  Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries,  assistant 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  whole  party 
were  invited  to  seats  at  tables  spread  on  the  lawn,  where 
ice-cream  and  cake  were  served. 

The  exercises  of  the  Christmas  festival  for  1888  began 
with  a  voluntary  by  Messrs.  Reevs  and  Steadman  on  the 
piano  and  violin,  followed  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cole. 
The  singing  of  the  "  Happy  Christmas  Bells "  by  the 
school  was  succeeded  by  responsive  Bible-reading,  and 
recitations  were  given  by  Ethel  Wisedell,  Miss  Bunetta  Gil- 


LUDLOW    STREET   REFORMED   CHAPEL.  499 

bert.  Charles  A.  Hoyt,  May  Christian,  Hattie  Walsh,  and 
Gracie  Jones.  Perhaps  the  most  interesting  part  of  the  pro- 
gramme was  the  distribution  of  Christmas  presents  by  Santa 
Claus.  Sixteen  prize  books  were  given  to  the  scholars  for 
punctual  attendance  during  the  year,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Cole,  on 
behalf  of  the  teachers,  presented  to  George  Stewart,  the 
Superintendent,  a  handsomely  framed  photograph  of  the 
Ludlow  Street  Chapel,  with  a  group  of  its  officers  and 
teachers. 

Children's  Day  was  celebrated  June  17,  1889.  An  at- 
tractive feature  of  the  occasion  was  the  missionary  recita- 
tion entitled  "  The  Mystic  Cable,"  spoken  by  twelve  little 
girls,  who  represented,  respectively,  "  Heathendom," 
"  Christendom,"  "  Wisdom,"  "  Unity,"  "  Effort,"  "  Wealth," 
"  Sacrifice,"  "  Bible,"  "  Prayer,"  "  Faith,"  "  Grace,"  and 
"  Missions."  Each  girl,  after  reciting  a  verse  in  turn,  clasp- 
ed hands  with  the  next,  and  so,  successively,  a  chain  was 
formed,  the  right  end  of  which  was  held  by  the  little  girl 
representing  "  Christendom,"  who  stood  leaning  against  a 
large  floral  cross  on  the  platform.  At  the  left  end  of  the 
platform  stood  a  little  girl  who  held  a  black  banner  repre- 
senting "  Heathendom."  As  the  chain  was  completed  she 
dropped  the  banner,  thus  showing  the  dispersion  of  the 
darkness  at  the  entrance  of  Christianity.  The  dialogue 
was  designed  to  show  how  the  "mighty  cable"  "  Christen- 
dom" may  send  "the  glad  message"  to  the  dwellers  in 
darkness. 

An  interesting  exercise  of  the  primary  department 
was  the  recitation  "  Word  Building,"  under  the  direction 
of  Miss  Dora  L.  Costello,  which  consisted  of  the  arrange- 
ment of  lettered  blocks,  which,  when  placed  in  proper  order 
by  the  children,  formed  the  sentence  "  Suffer  little  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  me,"  and  the  singing  of  the  carol,  "  The 
little  birds  filled  the  air  with  glee,"  with  other  pleasing 
recitations  by  the  members  of  the  department,  followed. 

In  response  to  the  names  of  the  various  classes  which 
were  called  by  the  secretary,  Alden  C.  Tompkins,  a  child 
from  each  class  presented  its  offerings,  some  of  which  were 
placed  in  the  centre  of  small  baskets  of  flowers.  The  offer- 
ings were  given  to  the  cause  of  missions,  and  the  flowers 


500  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

which  decorated  the  platform  were  distributed  among  the 
sick. 

Rev.  Dr.  Cole  made  a  short  address  appropriate  to  the 
hour,  after  which  the  carol,  "  Praise  the  Lord  for  child- 
hood days,"  was  sung  and  the  audience  dismissed. 

Union  services  were  held  regularly  on  Sunday  after- 
noons, conducted  in  turn  by  clergymen  of  the  different 
denominations  in  Yonkers.  This  movement  was  begun 
very  promisingly  on  Sunday,  January  i8,  1889.* 

The  primary  department  of  the  school  was  formed 
from  a  small  class  taught  by  Miss  Dora  L.  Costello  at  the 
opening  of  the  school.  She  has  had  charge  of  it  ever  since, 
having  no  assistant.  The  lessons  taught  are  the  Interna- 
tional Sunday-school  Series.  The  catechism  is  also  taught. 
Miss  Costello  is  very  enthusiastic  and  very  successful  in 
her  work,  and  the  department  under  her  efficient  manage- 
ment has  increased  to  thirty-five  pupils,  with  an  average 
attendance  of  twenty-five.  The  attendance  of  the  class  is 
increasing,  and  very  soon  a  larger  room  will  become  neces- 
sary. 

The  officers  of  the  school  are  George  Stewart,  Superin- 
tendent ;  Virgil  Myers,  Assistant  Superintendent ;  Edwin 
C.  Stewart,  Librarian ;  Bethune  M.  Reevs,  Music  Director ; 
Alden  B.  Tompkins,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  teach- 
ers are :  Mrs.  Nesbit,  Mrs.  Flansburgh,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Corbett, 
Misses  Edith  A.  Doren,  Lillian  Dealing,  Sarah  Geagen, 
Nettie  Moir,  Edith  Hamblet,  Bernetta  Van  Wagenen,  An- 
nie A.  Christian  and  Dora  L.  Costello,  Messrs.  H.  Miller, 
A.  B.  Hoyt,  John  G.  Reevs,  Virgil  Myers,  and  Christian  F. 
Tietjen. 

The  school  has  had  but  one  superintendent,  George 
Stewart,  whose  work  has  been  characterized  with  singular 

*  The  Rev.  Robert  White  preached  in  this  chapel  regularly  on  Sunday 
afternoons  about  eighteen  months.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W. 
Armitage  Beardslee,  a  graduate  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Beardslee  is  also  assistant  to  the  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  under  his  engagement  as  assistant 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  in  the  Reformed  Church,  on  Sunday  evening, 
October  14,  1891,  from  the  text  in  Matthew  17:25,  "What  thinkest  thou, 
Simon  ?" 


LUDLOW   STREET   REFORMED   CHAPEL.  50r 

energy  and  rare  devotedness.  He  holds  a  large  place  in 
the  affections  of  the  teachers  and  children  whom  he  delights 
to  serve.  The  school  under  his  leadership  has  prospered 
temporally  and  spiritually.  Mr.  Stewart  is  on  the  honor 
roll  of  Yonkers  Sunday-school  teachers.  The  accessions 
from  this  and  the  home  school  to  the  communion  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  1887  were  thirty-two,  and  in  1888 
from  this  school  seven. 

Walter  A.  Drinkwater,  the  first  secretary  of  the  school, 
filled  the  place  with  devotedness  and  rare  efficiency.  His 
resignation,  in  May,  1889,  was  reluctantly  accepted.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Alden  C.  Tompkins,  the  present  secre- 
tary, who  is  serving  with  great  acceptableness. 

In  December,  1887,  through  the  efforts  of  R.  J.  Dick, 
the  librarian,  the  library  received  a  valuable  addition  of 
books.     The  present  number  of  books  is  230. 

The  present  number  of  scholars,  May,  1 891,  is  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty. 

There  was  contributed  January  i,  1888,  $51  32  for  the 
expenses  of  the  school,  and  $22  for  missions. 

The  singing  book  used  is  "Spiritual  Songs."  The 
lesson  helps  are  obtained  from  the  International  Lesson 
Quarterly. 


502  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

This  Sunday-school  is  the  history  of  the  day  of  small 
things,  and  was  started  under  the  auspices  of  the  "  Ladies' 
Missionary  Association  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Yonkers."  The  establishment  of  a  mothers*  meeting  by 
Mrs.  G.  B.  Balch,  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Myers,  No.  6 
Moquette  Row,  near  the  Moquette  Mills,  Nepperhan  Ave- 
nue, was  an  important  aid  to  this  mission  enterprise. 

The  Sunday-school  was  opened  in  this  house  on  the 
afternoon  of  January  6,  1885,  with  three  teachers — Miss 
Mary  Randolph,  Miss  F.  D.  Baird,  and  Miss  J.  W.  Flagg, 
and  twelve  scholars.  Wells  Olmsted  was  chosen  superin- 
tendent. In  February  Miss  Mary  Ewing  and  Miss  Julia 
F.  Baird  joined  them  in  the  work. 

The  second  year  of  the  school's  life  was  one  of  con- 
tinued encouragement  and  uninterrupted  progress,  and  a 
third  room  was  hired  in  Moquette  Row  to  accommodate  the 
rapidly  increasing  attendance. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  something  must  be  done 
to  increase  still  further  the  facilities  of  accommodation  or 
the  work  would  be  greatly  retarded.  The  difficulties  and 
discouragements  can  only  be  realized  by  the  laborers  in 
the  crowded  rooms.  .  It  was  no  light  task  to  teach  a  class 
of  infant  scholars  in  a  small  kitchen  where  the  stove  ne- 
cessarily occupied  a  large  part  of  the  room.  It  is  darkest 
just  before  the  dawn.  The  needs  of  the  work  aroused  an 
increased  interest  among  the  congregation  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  Rev.  John  Reid  of  the 
school  to  the  Westchester  Presbytery,  April,  1886:  Num- 
ber of  officers,  two  ;  teachers,  three  ;  scholars,  fifty-five ; 
average  attendance,  forty ;  attendance  of  the  school  at 
church  services,  forty;   number  of   scholars  received  into 


IMMANUEL    CHAPEL    SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  503 

the  communion  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  pro- 
fession of  their  faith,  ten. 

During  Easter  week,  1886.  the  teachers,  with  the  val- 
uable assistance  of  Mrs.  Charles  Waring  (now  Mrs.  E.  M. 
Hermance)  arranged  a  cake  sale  and  concert,  the  proceeds 
of  which  were  $1 50.  This  proved  a  "  nest  egg  "  for  the  build- 
ing fund  of  Immanuel  Chapel.  A  fair  was  also  held  June 
12,  1886,  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  J.  C.  Havemeyer.  This  was 
given  by  several  of  the  classes  of  the  Sunday-school  con- 
nected with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  Another  fair 
was  held  at  the  residence  of  G.  Livingston  Morse,  which 
was  given  by  his  children,  and  realized  $9  87. 

A  tent  sale  on  the  Peabody  House  grounds,  North 
Broadway,  was  given,  the  proceeds  of  which  amounted  to 
$500,  and  a  musicale  was  held  at  "  Hillcrest,"  the  residence 
of  Mrs.  W.  W.  Law,  Palisade  Avenue,  in  October,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  which — $300 — were  donated  towards  the  building 
fund. 

The  members  of  the  congregation  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  became  deeply  interested  in  this  new  mission 
enterprise,  and  subscription  books  were  circulated  through 
the  church  and  the  people  very  generously  responded. 
Messrs.  Theodore  Oilman  and  W.  W.  Law  did  much  to 
hasten  the  progress  of  the  work  of  the  erection  of  the 
chapel,  both  by  their  liberal  gifts  and  kindly  interest. 

In  October,  1886,  a  request  from  his  congregation  was 
sent  to  Rev.  John  Reid,  asking  him  to  deliver  a  lecture  on 
his  late  travels  in  Russia,  the  proceeds  of  which  might  be 
devoted  to  the  building  fund  of  the  mission,  to  which  Mr. 
Reid  very  cordially  responded.  The  proceeds  of  the  lecture 
amounted  to  $165. 

The  Missionary  Association  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  assumed  the  charge  and  care  of  the  "  Moquette" 
Mission  now  named  "Immanuel,"  in  1886.  The  Associa- 
tion purchased  a  plot  of  ground,  75  by  100,  on  Nepperhan 
Avenue,  near  Ashburton,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  and  began 
the  erection  of  a  suitable  chapel  which  would  meet  all  the 
requirements  of  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school  and  the 
meetings  of  the  mission. 

The  chapel  building  is  of  Queen  Anne  style,  26  by  46 


504 


CHURCH  AND  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 


feet  in  dimensions.  The  main  room  is  about  20  by  36 
feet,  and  the  infant-class  room  18  feet  square.  There  are 
two  Bible-class  rooms,  10  by  15  feet,  and  a  library  room  of 
the  same  size.  The  infant-class  room  and  the  main  hall 
are  divided  by  four  long  sliding  doors.  The  floors  are 
of  oiled  Georgia  pine.  The  walls  are  sand  finished  and 
decorated,  the  main  room  being  Pompeii  red  and  the  rest 
of  the  rooms  of  olive  hue.  On  the  southern  exposure  of  the 
building  is  a  window  in  commemoration  of  a  pleasing  event. 
On  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of  his  coming  to  Yonkers, 
William  Allen  Butler   added   to  his  subscription  already 


IMMANUEL    CHAPEL. 


made  a  gift  which  has  been  embodied  in  five  windows,  of 
mottled  and  marbled  glass,  surmounted  by  a  spreading  oak, 
under  which  is  the  benediction,  "  God's  peace  be  with  you, 
one  and  all."  These  beautiful  windows  were  constructed 
by  the  Tifi^any  Glass  Company  of  New  York.  The  remain- 
der of  the  windows  are  of  rolled  cathedral  glass,  Queen  Anne 
style.  J.  C.  Cady  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  were  the  architects ; 
E.  K.  Baldwin,  mason ;  Isaac  Van  Steenbergh,  carpenter; 
and  Thomas  M.  Lyall,  painter.  The  cost  of  the  building 
and  grounds  was  $5,300. 


IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  505 

The  dedicatory  exercises  of  the  chapel  took  place  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  March  13,  1887.  The  building  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  some  being  turned  away 
for  want  of  room.  The  divine  blessing  was  invoked  by 
Rev.  Prof.  H.  M.  Baird,  D.  D.  After  singing,  the  Scriptures 
were  read  by  Rev.  I.  Davison,  when  the  pastor  offered  the 
prayer  of  dedication.  Addresses  were  delivered  by  Theo- 
dore Oilman,  chairman  of  the  building  committee.  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Allison,  Rev.  Edward  C.  Moore,  and  William 
Allen  Butler.    Rev.  John  Reid  conducted  the  exercises. 

Sunday  evening  meetings  were  conducted  in  Moquette 
Row  by  Rev.  John  Reid,  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  for  several  months  previous  to  the  engage- 
ment of  a  stated  missionary  pastor.  The  Sunday-school 
was  transferred  to  the  chapel  in  March,  1887. 

The  officers  of  the  school,  June,  1888,  were:  Wells  Olm- 
sted, Superintendent ;  Miss  Janet  Flagg,  Infant  Class  Teach- 
er ;  Schuyler  Bogart,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  Howard 
Chamberlain,  Librarian  ;  Victor  M.  Elting,  Assistant  Libra- 
rian. 

The  teachers  were :  Miss  Margaret  B.  Otis,  Miss  Mar- 
garet C.  Butler,  Miss  Fermine  D.  Baird,  Miss  Ella  R.  King, 
Miss  Mary  Ewing,  Miss  Anna  W.  Kirkwood,  Miss  Janet 
W.  Flagg,  Miss  E.  P.  Flagg,  Miss  Mary  Randolph,  Miss 
Carrie  A.  Law,  Miss  Julia  F.  Baird,  Miss  Deyo,  Mrs.  H.  C. 
Balch,  Miss  H.  E.  Balch,  Messrs.  A.  O.  Kirkwood  and  John 
P.  Brown. 

In  January,  1887,  the  services  of  William  T.  Gouch  were 
secured  as  cornetist  to  assist  in  the  service  in  the  Sunday- 
school  and  the  evening  church  service.  Mr.  Gouch  served 
very  acceptably  in  this  capacity  for  eighteen  months. 

The  services  of  Rev.  John  S.  Penman,  a  student  of  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York,  were  engaged 
in  May,  1887.  Prior  to  Mr.  Penman's  engagement,  students 
came  at  different  times  from  the  Seminary  in  New  York 
and  conducted  Sunday  evening  meetings  in  Moquette  Row 
and  in  the  chapel. 

Rev.  Mr.  Penman  was  ordained  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  June  29,  1887. 

A  strawberry  and  ice-cream  festival  was  given  to  the 


506  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

children  of  the  Sunday-school  on  the  grounds  of  Mrs.  Ethan 
Flagg  in  June,  1887.  The  first  Christmas  exercises  in  the 
new  chapel  were  held  on  Saturday  evening,  December  25, 
1887.  There  were  singing  of  Christmas  carols  by  the  chil- 
dren, addresses  by  Rev.  John  Reid  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Penman, 
followed  by  the  distribution  of  gifts.  The  religious  ex- 
ercises were  held  on  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  in  connection  with  the  Sunday-school  of 
that  church. 

A  very  pleasant  literary  and  musical  entertainment  was 
held  in  the  chapel  on  the  evening  of  November  10,  1887, 
the  proceeds,  $55  25,  being  for  the  benefit  of  the  Young 
Men's  Reading-Room  of  the  chapel. 

The  communion  service  at  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Sunday,  January,  27,  1888,  was  deeply  impressive. 
There  were  on  that  occasion  received  into  the  church  fel- 
lowship thirty-two  persons.  Twenty-six  of  these  came  on 
profession  and  six  by  certificate.  Of  the  former  eight  re- 
ceived baptism.  The  coming  in  of  many  of  these  was  the 
result  of  patient  and  faithful  Sunday-school  and  ministerial 
labor  in  connection  with  Immanuel  Chapel,  where  services 
have  been  conducted  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  John  Reid,  his 
assistant.  Rev.  John  S.  Penman,  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  George  E.  Strobridge.  In  an  especial  degree  it 
resulted  from  the  efforts  made  for  many  months  in  con- 
nection with  the  mothers'  meetings  held  there  under  the 
Ladies'  Association  and  aided  by  their  devoted  lady  mis- 
sionary, Mrs.  Balch.  There  were  received  into  the  commu- 
nion of  the  church  from  January,  1888,  to  September,  1888, 
eighteen  scholars. 

In  January  the  attendance  of  the  school  had  reached 
164,  with  an  enrolment  of  225,  together  with  twenty  officers 
and  teachers.  In  the  meantime  the  school  had  been  thor- 
oughly furnished  with  record  books,  papers,  and  other 
Sunday-school  appointments.  Through  the  kindness  of 
William  F.  Cochran  a  carefully  prepared  library  was  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  scholars. 

In  February,  1 888,  another  entertainment  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  Young  Men's  Reading-Room  was  held,  which 
netted  $46,  and  was  given  to  the  chapel  fund. 


IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  507 

Rev.  John  S.  Penman,  whose  labors  were  most  success- 
ful in  connection  with  the  work  of  Immanuel  Chapel  since 
January  i,  1887,  received  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Irvington-on-the-Hud- 
son,  December  i6,  1888,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  that 
church  May  29,  1889.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  Hen- 
drik  de  Vries,  A.  M.,  who  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  min- 
istry in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  June  19,  1888.  The 
ordination  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mabon. 
The  charge  to  the  candidate  was  given  by  his  brother,  Rev. 
Henry  de  Vries.  Prayer  of  ordination  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Reid. 
Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries,  A.  M.,  youngest  son  of  Hendrik 
de  Vries  and  Wilhelmina  Louise  Diephuizen,  who  was 
born  in  Amsterdam,  Netherlands,  May  8,  1859,  was  grad- 
uated from  Rutgers  College,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  in  June, 
1 88 1,  and  after  spending  the  succeeding  years  as  teacher 
in  classics  and  music,  took  his  master  degree  in  1885.  In 
the  fall  of  1885  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  Reformed  Church  in  America,  and  upon  graduation  in 
May,  1888,  he  accepted  the  call  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  John 
Reid,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Yon- 
kers;  in  April,  1 891,  he  was  elected  Moderator  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Westchester,  and  at  the  fall  session  of  Presby- 
tery, October  18,  1891,  was  appointed  Commissioner  to 
Synod  for  two  years. 

In  January,  1889,  Samuel  Archer,  who  had  served  as 
Treasurer  of  the  collections  of  the  chapel  from  June  18,  1887, 
resigned,  and  Wm.  House  was  appointed  and  served  for  a 
brief  period.  The  present  Treasurer,  Charles  Hitzelberger, 
was  elected  September  i,  1889. 

Clarence  Tice  is  the  present  Secretary. 

In  June,  1888,  another  strawberry  festival  was  held  on 
the  Peabody  grounds.  North  Broadway.  A  pleasant  feature 
of  this  occasion  was  the  photographing  of  the  teachers 
and  scholars  of  the  school  in  separate  groups,  by  George 
D.  Mackay. 

A  large  congregation  assembled  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  on  Sunday  morning,  June  2,  1889.  The 
pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Reid,  was  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  Hen- 
drik de  Vries,  of  Immanuel  Chapel,  and  the  services  bore 


508  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

chiefly  upon  that  missionary  branch  of  the  church.  The 
sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Reid  was  appropriate  and  telling. 
It  was  based  on  the  words  in  Ecclesiastes  4 : 9 — "  Two  are 
better  than  one,  because  they  have  a  good  reward  for  their 
labor."  The  encouraging  report  of  the  chapel  work  for  the 
past  year,  by  Mr.  de  Vries,  was  listened  to  with  great  interest. 

The  report  for  the  year  ending  May  31,1 889,  reads : 

"  Regular  preaching  services  have  been  held  on  the 
evening  of  every  Lord's  day,  with  a  growing  attendance, 
the  average  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  and  twenty,  the 
largest  attendance  being  one  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The 
evening  service  has  been  prefaced  during  the  winter  months 
by  a  thirty-minutes'  service  of  song  and  prayer  led  by  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Session  and  church. 

"  The  Sunday-school  has  been  held  every  Sunday 
afternoon,  and  shows  encouraging  signs  not  only  of  life  but 
healthful  growth.  Owing  to  the  faithful  labors  and  patience 
of  superintendent  and  teachers,  the  school  now  numbers 
from  one  hundred  and  eighty  to  two  hundred  in  attendance, 
many  of  whom  have  made  profession  of  their  faith  in  Jesus 
as  their  Saviour. 

"A  few  words  in  grateful  remembrance  of  a  teacher, 
Miss  Anna  W.  Kirkwood,  who  began  the  year  with  us,  but 
whose  abundantly  useful  earthly  life  ended  and  the  heav- 
enly life  entered  upon  April  24,  1889,  where  a  grander  field 
was  opened  before  her,  giving  full  scope  for  the  develop- 
ment of  all  her  powers  and  the  exercise  of  all  her  best  and 
noblest  affections.  From  nearly  the  beginning  of  Sunday- 
school  work  in  connection  with  Immanuel  Chapel  she 
was  identified  with  it,  and  the  voluntary  expressions  of 
feeling  from  her  class  of  boys  help  to  tell  the  story  of 
our  loss. 

"  A  prayer  -  meeting  has  been  held  every  Tuesday 
evening  of  the  year,  and  the  deepening  interest  in  these 
has  been  evinced  by  a  faithful  attendance  of  from  fifty  as 
the  minimum  to  eighty-five  and  ninety-nine. 

"  In  October  a  Thursday  night  Bible-class  for  men  was 
started,  the  membership  of  which  soon  reached  the  num- 
ber of  eighteen,  with  a  regular  attendance  of  from  ten  to 
fourteen.     Bible  study  was  the  main  object  of  these  gather- 


IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  509 

ings  of  men,  while  efforts  were  also  crowned  with  some 
measure  of  success  in  training  the  members  to  take  part 
in  prayer. 

"  On  Wednesday  afternoon  at  2  :  30  o'clock  the  '  Help- 
ing Hand'  has  regularly  convened  during  the  winter 
months,  having  a  membership  of  sixty-four  women  and 
sixteen  teachers.  Two  hundred  and  seventy-five  garments 
have  been  made  this  season  and  the'  Dorcas  class  earned 
over  $33  by  other  voluntary  labor. 

"  At  4 :  30  P.  M.  the  mothers'  meeting,  now  in  its  fifth 
year,  has  been  attended  fully  by  200  women,  mostly  mo- 
thers, as  the  name  implies.  •  , 

"  A  series  of  Friday  evening  entertainments  have  been 
given  successfully,  George  D.  Mackay,  Ralph  E.  Prime, 
Col.  William  L.  Heermance,  and  Dr.  Robert  N.  Flagg 
contributing  to  the  entertainment  of  those  who  attended. 
Careful  visitation  has  been  continued  in  the  homes  of  those 
concerned  with  chapel  interests.  Measures  have  been 
adopted  which  have  aroused  interest  in  the  direction  of  a 
personal  effort  on  the  part  of  those  who  worship  in  the 
chapel  to  provide  for  some  portion  of  the  expenses  them- 
selves. 

"  By  an  entertainment  on  April  9,  which  netted  $79, 
together  with  a  $25  contribution,  the  King's  Daughters 
have  procured  a  250-pound  bell,  and  the  men,  by  the  per- 
sonal contributions  of  money  and  manual  labor,  have  made 
excellent  improvements  in  and  around  the  buildings,  this 
work  showing  their  grateful  appreciation  of  the  benefits 
the  church  has  conferred  upon  them  by  erecting  and  sup- 
porting so  generously  the  chapel  in  their  midst.     ' 

"  After  the  report  was  read,  Dr.  Reid  made  a  brief 
appeal,  asking  for  $1,200  to  carry  on  the  work  for  the  en- 
suing year.  The  people  have  always  felt  the  warmest  in- 
terest in  their  chapel  work,  and  at  once  an  amount  was 
contributed  to  car-ry  it  successfully  on." 

Children's  Day — June  9,  1889 — was  celebrated  by  a 
union  service  in  connection  with  the  home  school,  which 
was  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  the  morning 
of  that  day  at  1 1  o'clock.  The  superintendents  of  both  home 
and  mission   schools,  George  H.    Chamberlin   and   Wells 


5IO  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  WORK. 

Olmsted,  were  installed  in  accordance  with  a  new  ritual 
recommended  by  Sunday-school  workers  and  approved  by 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  October,  1889,  an  entertainment  was  given  through 
the  efforts  of  a  blind  girl,  Miss  Sophia  Hitzelberger,  the 
proceeds  of  which  were  devoted  to  the  purchasing  of  a 
carpet  for  the  chapel. 

The  Young  Men's  Immanuel  Pioneer  Society  was  or- 
ganized August,  1889,  to  aid  the  chapel. 

There  was  a  very  large  attendance  at  Immanuel  Chapel 
on  Thursday  night,  September  27,  1890,  the  principal  fea- 
ture being  the  presentation  of  a  piano  and  an  organ  to  the 
Church  by  the  Immanuel  Pioneer  Society.  The  chapel 
was  very  prettily  decorated  with  flags  and  flowers.  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Reid  presided  and  made  the  presentation  speech. 

The  organ  was  made  by  Story  &  Clark,  and  the  piano 
is  a  Mathushek  instrument. 

The  officers  are  Charles  Hitzelberger,  President ;  Thom- 
as Spink,  Vice-President;  David  W.  Magee,  Secretary; 
Harry  B.  Tice,  Treasurer;  Clarence  L.  Tice,  Manager; 
Oliver  Inson,  Joseph  Tidaback,  Fred  Nodine,  and  William 
Mackey. 

Easter  Sunday,  April  7,  1890,  immediately  after  the 
Sunday-school  service,  seventeen  children  were  offered  in 
baptism.  Rev.  J.  H.  de  Vries,  the  pastor,  officiated.  A 
new  oak  font,  given  to  the  chapel  by  the  King's  Daughters, 
was  used  on  the  occasion.  The  font  is  inscribed  with  the 
words,  "  One  Lord,  One  Faith,  One  Baptism,"  and  is  sur- 
mounted by  the  King's  Daughters'  cross,  bearing  the  letters 
I.  H.  N.s— "  In  His  Name."  The  chapel  clock  was  pre- 
sented by  the  King's  Daughters,  and  the  communion  table 
also.  This  organization  is  under  the  direction  of  Miss 
Mary  Randolph. 

Miss  Janet  Flagg  was  the  first  teacher  of  the  primary 
department,  and  continued  her  acceptable  work  until  the 
spring  of  1 888,  when  she  was  succeeded  for  a  brief  period 
by  Mrs.  H.  C.  Balch,  followed  by  George  D.  Mackay,  Miss 
Georgiana  R.  Law,  Miss  F.  L.  Upham. 

The  present  superintendent  is  Miss  Hattie  B.  Blake, 
and  Miss  Margie  Brendlinger,  assistant.     The  International 


IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  511 

Lessons  are  taught  with  pictures  and  Scripture  illustrations. 
The  collections  of  the  class  are  given  to  the  general  fund 
of  the  school.  The  "Little  Folks'  Paper"  is  circulated. 
The  class  numbers  sixty-five. 

Large  adult  Bible-classes  of  women  are  in  charge  of 
Miss  Mary  Randolph  and  George  D.  Mackay.  These 
teachers  have  been  earnest  and  successful  in  their  labors, 
which  have  appeared  in  the  additions  to  the  communion  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  from  their  classes. 

Alexander  O.  Kirk  wood  has  charge  of  the  men's  Bible- 
class. 

The  scholars  of  the  Immanuel  Chapel  Sunday-school 
were  made  happy  on  Saturday  evening,  December  28,  1889, 
at  their  Christmas  festival.  The  exercises  consisted  of 
caroling  by  the  school  and  addresses  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Reid,  Rev.  John  S.  Penman,  of  Irvington,  and  Rev.  Hen- 
drik  de  Vries.  Wells  Olmsted,  the  Superintendent,  presid- 
ed. There  was  a  handsome  Christmas-tree.  The  gifts  con- 
sisted principally  of  baskets  of  confectionery. 

Immanuel  Chapel  was  crowded  with  merry  children  and 
visitors  on  Saturday  evening,  December,  27,  1 890,  when  the 
Sunday-school  festival  was  held.  The  room  was  decorated 
with  greens,  and  on  the  wall  was  the  greeting.  Merry  Christ- 
mas !    A  large  tree  was  laden  with  candies,  dolls,  toys,  etc. 

Wells  Olmsted,  the  superintendent,  presided.  After  a 
carol  by  the  school.  Miss  Oxholm  presiding  at  the  piano, 
prayer  was  offered  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries. 
A  recitation,  "The  Night  Before  Christmas,"  was  well 
given  by  Mrs.  J.  Lindsay  Porteous.  The  Rev.  Edwin  A. 
Schell,  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  addressed  the 
school,  and  Robert  O.  Kirkwood  played  the  role  of  St. 
Nicholas,  giving  much  pleasure  to  the  children  with  his 
stories  and  gifts. 

The  presents  consisted  of  knives,  mufflers,  and  sleds, 
for  the  boys;  books,  dolls,  cups  and  saucers,  and  pretty 
vases,  for  the  girls.  Rev.  Mr.  de  Vries  received  a  hand- 
some set  of  books,  nine  volumes,  works  of  Motley,  the  his- 
torian. 

The  amount  raised  annually  by  the  Sunday-school  for 
benevolent  purposes  is  $125. 


512  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

The  school  has  recently  undertaken  the  support  of  a 
pupil  in  the  orphanage  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  B.  C. 
Henry,  Canton,  China,  in  memory  of  a  lately  deceased 
teacher  bearing  her  name,  Anna  W.  Kirkwood. 

The  school  has  had  but  one  superintendent,  Wells 
Olmsted,  who  was  elected  in  January,  1885.  Mr.  Olmsted 
has  filled  his  position  with  marked  fidelity  and  has  won  the 
esteem  and  regard  of  his  co-laborers  by  his  unceasing  efforts 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  school.  He  is  on  the 
honor  roll  of  Sunday-school  workers  in  Yonkers. 

The  present  officers  of  the  school  are :  Wells  Olmsted, 
Superintendent;  Robert  Ogilvie  Kirkwood  (elected  1891), 
Vice -Superintendent,  Theodore  Oxholm,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer;  John  E.  Jardine,  Librarian. 

The  school  record-book  includes  the  following  teach- 
ers for  1889,  90,  91  :  Miss  Mary  Randolph,  Miss  Fannie 
L.  Upham,  Miss  Georgiana  R.  Law  (now  the  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Penman),  Miss  Harriet  Oxholm,  Miss  E.  P.  Flagg, 
Miss  Jessie  Heermance,  Miss  Ella  R.  King,  Miss  Bessie 
May  Otis,  Miss  Van  Orden,  Miss  Crane,  Mrs.  Johnson, 
Miss  L.  Birch,  Miss  A.  Lee,  Miss  Goodrich,  Miss  Heer- 
mance, Miss  Janet  W.  Flagg,  Miss  M.  Balch,  Rev.  J.  H. 
de  Vries,  Prof.  E.  B.  Fancher,  George  D.  Mackay,  T.  L. 
Ellenthorpe,  Alexander  O.  Kirkwood,  John  P.  Brown,  John 
G.  Reevs,  Henry  A.  Blake,  James  Fancher,  Edward  R. 
McLaury,  Thomas  W.  Moore,  and  Robert  O.  Kirkwood. 
The  teachers  of  the  primary  department  are  Miss  Harriet 
B.  Blake,  Superintendent,  Miss  Margie  Brendlinger,  Assist- 
ant Superintendent. 

The  number  of  books  in  the  library  is  248.  The  lesson 
helps  are  Peloubet's  graded  question  books  and  quarterlies 
and  the  "  Sunday-school  Times."  The  singing  book  is 
"  Gospel  Songs." 

The  membership  of  the  school  is  225.  The  organist 
of  the  Sunday-school  is  Miss  Harriet  Oxholm.  The  singing 
in  the  chapel  services  is  led  by  Rev.  J.  Hendrik  de  Vries, 
who  is  assisted  by  Misses  Lottie  Mason,  Lizzie  Wilson,  and 
Eliza  Dunn.  Miss  Addie  Swan  is  the  organist,  who  has 
very  faithfully  and  efficiently  occupied  that  place  since 
March,  1887. 


IMMANUEL   CHAPEL   SUNDAY-SCHOOL.  513 

Thomas  A.  Spink  served  faithfully  as  sexton  of  Im- 
manuel  Chapel  from  January,  1888,  till  January,  1891.  He 
was  succeeded  by  William  Doyle.  Through  the  faithful  min- 
istrations of  those  who  have  been  active  in  the  work  of 
Immanuel  Chapel,  108  persons  have  been  received  into 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  work  of  Rev.  Mr.  de  Vries  in  connection  with  the 
chapel  has  met  with  marked  success.  The  steadiness  of 
its  growth  and  the  warm  attachment  of  his  people  for  him 
all  go  to  prove  the  superior  character  of  his  service.  Fifty- 
six  persons  have  been  received  into  the  communion  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  as  the  result  of  his  labors. 


Church  and  Snnday-Bchool  Work.  33 


514  CHURCH   AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

A   FEW   WORDS   IN   CONCLUSION. 

During  the  year  1871  five  of  the  churches  united  in 
celebrating  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  total  number  of  resident  communicants  as  re- 
ported of  the  various  Protestant  Churches  in  Yonkers  is 

4,715- 

Several  of  the  churches  of  the  city  keep  a  list  of  their 
non-resident  members  who  have  not  taken  their  letters  of 
dismission  to  other  churches. 

If  that  number  was  added  to  the  given  number  of  com- 
municants, the  membership  would  be  considerably  larger. 
The  average  attendance  of  the  Protestant  Churches  in 
Yonkers  as  reported  is  5,551. 

The  attendance  as  reported  at  the  various  masses  at 
the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  Roman-catholic  Churches 
is  over  9,000. 

The  names  of  the  sextons  of  the  several  Churches  in 
Yonkers  have  been  simply  mentioned,  with  no  record  of 
their  work  in  connection  with  the  Churches  and  Sunday- 
schools.  If  it  were  possible  the  writer  would  gladly  give 
the  sextons  of  the  different  Churches  the  honor  due  them. 
Though  their  lives  may  be  unwritten  and  their  deeds  of 
faithful  and  kindly  ministry  be  unrecorded,  their  works  do 
follow  them  and  shall  not  be  unaccounted  of  by  Him  who 
reckons  the  services  of  men  by  the  spirit  which  stands  be- 
hind and  inspires  them. 

One  of  these  faithful  souls,  who  served  as  sexton  in 
one  of  the  churches  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  said  : 
"  I  always  try  to  hallow  my  work  with  prayer  ;  lowly  as  it 
appears,  I  think  God  accepts  it,  even  as  he  did  the  preach- 
ing of  the  preacher.  I  always  try  to  make  the  house  of 
God  comfortable  and  inviting,  so  that  the  people  will  like 
to  come  to  church  and  hear  the  gospel  preached,  and  I  am 


A   FEW    WORDS   IN   CONCLUSION.  515 

sure  '  I  would  rather  be  a  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness.'  " 

The  Yonkers  Sunday-school  Teachers'  Association  was 
organized  on  February  22,  1867.  ^leetings  of  the  Asso- 
ciation were  held  the  second  Wednesday  of  each  month, 
and  were  the  means  of  bringing  out  the  experience  and 
working  of  each  particular  school  for  the  general  benefit 
and  improvement  of  the  whole,  and  of  cultivating  a  social 
feeling  among  superintendents  and  teachers  of  the  different 
Sunday-schools.  The  clergymen  of  the  various  Churches 
also  took  a  deep  interest  in  these  meetings  and  as  often  as 
they  could  were  present  and  took  part  in  the  discussions  of 
the  subjects  presented.  These  meetings  were  also  the 
means  of  the  development  of  an  earnest  and  aggressive 
missionary  spirit  among  the  Churches  and  Sunday-schools. 
They  were  full  of  interest  and  enthusiasm,  of  suggestion 
and  instruction. 

The  President  of  the  Association  held  office  for  three 
months.  Rev.  Edward  Bright,  D.  D.,  was  the  first  President, 
and  Stephen  H.  Thayer,  Jr. — now  Judge  Thayer — was  its 
first  Secretary.  The  executive  committee  consisted  of  a 
gentleman  from  each  of  the  various  churches.  The  first 
executive  committee  was  composed  as  follows :  Chas.  L. 
Cozzens,  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church;  John  W.  Oliver, 
First  Methodist  Church  ;  Dr.  Gabriel  Reevs,  Reformed 
Church ;  Richard  Wynkoop,  First  Presbyterian  Church ; 
Charles  Seymour,  St.  Paul's  Church  ;  John  H.  Brown,  West- 
minster Presbyterian  Church  ;  William  Holme,  Warburton 
Avenue  Baptist  Church ;  C.  F.  Moulton,  Central  Methodist 
Church. 

Essays  and  poems,  composed  by  several  of  the  Superin- 
tendents and  teachers  of  the  different  Sunday-schools,  were 
read  at  the  monthly  meetings.  Among  the  Superintend- 
ents who  can  be  recalled  were  William  A.  Gibson,  who 
read  an  essay  entitled  "  The  Perplexities  of  the  Sunday- 
school  Superintendent,"  Peter  Haulenbeck,  an  essay  on 
"  Opportunities."  Mrs.  J.  H.  Uhl,  a  teacher  in  St.  John's 
Sunday-school,  and  Miss  Lucy  Earl,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  contributed  original  poems.  Rev.  L.  W. 
Mudo-e — now  Rev.  Dr.  Mudge— took  an  active  part  in  the 


5l6  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

work  of  the  Association,  and  contributed  a  number  of  valu- 
able papers  on  several  of  the  subjects  discussed. 

At  the  monthly  meeting  in  August,  1870,  a  poem  en- 
titled "  Christ  at  the  Sea  of  Galilee,"  composed  by  Miss 
Anna  W.  Kirkwood,  was  read  by  the  Vice-Superintendent 
of  the  First  Mission  Sunday-school,  also  an  essay  entitled, 
"  Elements  of  a  Successful  vSunday-school,"  by  J.  H.  Brown, 
the  Vice-Superintendent  of  that  school,  and  these  were 
afterwards  printed  in  the  "  Yonkers  Statesman "  by  re- 
quest of  the  Association. 

The  elements  constituting  a  successful  Sunday-school 
were  considered  under  three  heads.  First,  "  A  properly 
qualified  superintendent  and  other  officers  ;"  second,  "  Prop- 
erly qualified  teachers ;"  and  third,  "  Sundry  agencies  to 
bear  upon  the  entire  body — officers,  teachers,  and  scholars." 
The  subject  under  the  three  points  was  very  ably  handled 
and  was  considered  most  comprehensive  and  satisfactory, 
being  helpful  towards  practical  results.  The  subject  of 
temperance  was  also  discussed  at  several  of  the  meetings 
and  elicited  very  spirited  and  earnest  debates. 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  Association  was  held  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Saturday  afternoon,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1868,  when  the  following  programme  was  an- 
nounced :  Festive  Song ;  Reading  of  Scripture,  Rev.  Lewis 
W.  Mudge ;  Prayer,  Rev.  Dr.  Behrends ;  Song,  "  Sabbath 
Bells;"  Address,  Rev.  J.  Hyatt  Smith  ;  Song,  "Battling  for 
the  Lord ;"  Address,  Rev.  Dr.  David  Cole ;  Song,  "  Uni- 
versal Praise;"  Address,  Rev.  U.  T.  Tracy  ;  Song,  "Ban- 
ner of  Jesus ;"  Address,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  M.  Seward ;  Benedic- 
tion, Rev.  Dr.  Crawford. 

The  Association  represented  nine  different  Sunday- 
schools.  The  children  of  these  schools  in  attendance  num- 
bered twelve  hundred,  and  when  seated  filled  all  the  pews 
and  aisles  and  space  around  the  pulpit.  The  exercises  were 
deeply  interesting.  The  several  sacred  songs  of  the  chil- 
dren filled  the  church  with  a  melody  which  touched  the 
hearts  of  all  present.  The  solos  by  Miss  Reynolds,  of 
Brooklyn,  Miss  Jennie  Fuller,  soprano  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  by  Miss  Josie  Sanders,  alto  of  the 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  were  beautifully  sung. 


A   FEW    WORDS   IN   CONCLUSION.  517 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Wise,  of  New  York,  and  the  Rev.  J. 
Hyatt  Smith  held  the  attention  of  the  audience  in  a  charm- 
ing manner.  All  the  addresses  were  to  the  point  and  were 
listened  to  with  great  satisfaction. 

There  could  have  been  no  more  interesting  religious 
occasion  in  Yonkers  than  the  gathering  together  of  twelve 
hundred  Sunday-school  children  and  Sunday-school  work- 
ers. It  showed  the  extent  to  which  the  noble  work  of 
training  the  young  in  the  right  way  was  carried  on  in  our 
then  village,  and  it  was  a  suggestive  feature  of  the  exhibi- 
tion that  it  took  place  on  a  day  sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Washington,  the  chief  among  the  founders  of  a  republic 
the  stability  and  prosperity  of  which  most  depend  on  all 
of  its  citizens  being  well  grounded  in  their  youth  in  the 
principles  of  virtue  and  religion. 

A  most  enjoyable  sociable  of  the  Association  was  held 
on  Tuesday  evening,  June  20,  1871,  at  Radford  Hall,  from 
eight  o'clock  to  nine  o'clock  being  spent  in  greetings,  con- 
gratulations and  promenading.  The  Misses  Buckley  and 
Messrs.  Becket  and  Brush,  of  the  Weber  Quartette  of  New 
York,  sang  selections.  The  meeting  closed  with  the  hymn, 
"  Work,  for  the  night  is  coming."  The  event  was  one  of 
the  most  happily  conceived  and  thoroughly  enjoyable 
affairs  of  the  season.  There  were  425  cards  of  invitation 
sent  out,  of  which  more  than  half  were  accepted,  although 
it  rained  very  hard  all  the  evening.  One  of  the  speakers 
said  it  was  "  a  very  bright  affair  except  the  evening."  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Bright  presided  as  President.  Excellent  speeches 
were  made  by  John  W.  Oliver,  an  ex-president  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, the  Rev.  Dr.  Langford,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church, 
and  William  A.  Gibson. 

It  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained  when  the  Associa- 
tion ceased  to  exist,  on  account  of  its  later  records  being 
lost.     It  is  thought  about  the  year  1875  or  1876. 

The  fifth  Annual  Convention  of  the  Hudson  River 
Sunday-school  Teachers'  Association  convened  in  the  War- 
burton  Avenue  Baptist  Church  of  Yonkers,  October  12, 
1869,  and  continued  in  session  for  three  days. 

There  was  an  array  of  fine  speakers.  Among  them  v^ere 
the  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.  D.,  the  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 


5l8  CHURCH   AND   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York,  who  made  the  opening 
address.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Howard  Crosby, 
D.  D.,  who  spoke  on  the  "  Philosophy  of  Teaching." 

Other  addresses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duryea, 
the  Rev.  George  H.  Mandeville,  D.  D.,  the  Rev.  Alfred 
Taylor,  Albert  Woodruff,  and  other  prominent  Sunday- 
school  workers. 

The  occasion  was  helpful  to  Sunday-school  interests  in 
Yonkers. 

In  the  spring  of  1871  William  Allen  Butler  gave  a  se- 
ries of  lectures  which  embraced  the  leading  subjects  on  the 
earlier  portions  of  the  Bible.  The  meetings  were  held  in 
the  lecture-room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
afternoon  at  3  :  30  o'clock.  This  course  of  Bible  lessons  was 
exceedingly  profitable  and  instructive.  The  meetings  were 
largely  attended  by  the  representative  members  of  the 
different  churches,  thus  proving  their  freedom  from  secta- 
rian and  denominational  doctrines.  At  their  close  in 
April,  1874,  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Foote  moved  a  vote  of  thanks, 
which  was  heartily  seconded  by  all  present.  Rev.  Dr.  T. 
Ralston  Smith,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
made  brief  remarks  expressive  of  his  approval  and  appreci- 
ation of  their  great  value  to  those  who  had  been  privileged 
to  attend. 

The  following  statistics  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  Yon- 
kers, with  the  exception  of  the  Roman-catholic  Sunday- 
schools  and  of  the  Tuckahoe  schools,  from  which  no  report 
could  be  obtained,  were  gathered  by  Walter  Underbill,  a 
former  superintendent  of  the  Reformed  Church  Sunday- 
school,  by  the  request  of  the  Secretary  of  the  New  York 
State  Teachers'  Association,  for  the  year  ending  January, 
1872:  Number  of  Sunday-schools,  11  ;  number  of  officers 
and  teachers,  275  ;  number  of  scholars,  2,453  ;  number  of 
conversions,  58 ;  number  of  volumes  in  library,  6,303  : 
amount  expended  for  books,  $880 ;  amount  expended  for 
benevolent  objects,  $1,613  ;  amount  expended  for  other 
objects,  $2,586. 

The  following  figures  show  some  of  the  work  of  Sunday- 
schools  in  Yonkers  in  the  centennial  year.  They  were 
gathered  and  prepared  with  great  care.     The  totals  of  the 


A   FEW   WORDS   IN   CONCLUSION.  519 

seventeen  Sunday-schools  which  existed  at  that  time,  inclu- 
ding the  boys'  department  of  St.  Mary's  Roman-catholic 
Sunday-school,  is  as  follows:  Number  of  Sunday-schools, 
17 ;  number  of  officers,  75  ;  number  of  teachers,  345  ;  num- 
ber of  scholars  on  register,  4,241  ;  average  attendance,  2,945  ; 
largest  attendance,  3,590;  in  infant  classes,  953;  conver- 
sions, 116;  deaths,  25  ;  volumes  in  libraries,  7,325 ;  reported 
receipts,  $4,398  22  ;  reported  expenditures,  $4,096  jt,. 

In  regard  to  the  statistics  of  the  Sunday-schools,  as  given 
in  this  history,  the  writer  would  state  that  they  have  in 
every  case  been  recorded  as  they  were  received  from  the 
Superintendents,  Secretaries,  and  record-books  of  the 
Sunday-schools,  also  from  the  reports  of  the  pastors  at 
their  annual  meetings  of  the  Synods  and  General  Con- 
ferences of  their  respective  Churches,  and  no  pains  nor  time 
has  been  spared  to  make  them  as  accurate  as  possible. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  reports  and  statistics  of  the 
Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  could  be  made  more  valuable 
if  some  uniform  system  were  adopted  by  which  the  mem- 
oranda of  all  the  schools  should  be  kept. 

If  a  yearly  record  were  kept  of  the  number  of  members 
uniting  with  the  Churches  from  the  Sunday-schools,  the 
growth  of  the  Church  from  the  Sunday-school  would  be 
shown. 

A  committee  from  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associ- 
ation of  Yonkers,  in  November,  1883,  was  appointed  to 
inaugurate  a  union  Sunday-school  teachers'  meeting,  to  as- 
semble in  the  parlor  of  the  Association  in  Getty  Square  on 
Saturday  afternoon.  These  meetings  were  well  attended, 
being  alternately  conducted  by  the  city  pastors,  and  contin- 
ued through  the  winters  of  1883-86. 

The  Sunday-school  Union  of  Yonkers,  auxiliary  to  the 
New  York  State  Sunday-school  Association,  was  organized 
in  June,  1890.  Its  officers  were  :  Dr.  Franklin  Soper,  Presi- 
dent ;  Walter  Thomas,  William  Smith,  and  Virgil  Myers, 
Vice-Presidents;  George  T.  Leeds,  Recording  Secretary; 
Mrs.  E.  C.  Paton,  Treasurer ;  Charles  E.  Manning,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary. 

In  response  to  a  general  invitation  the  pastors  of  the 
several  churches  met  at  the  Rectory  of  St.  John's  Church, 


520  CHURCH  AND    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   WORK. 

Monday  evening,  February  i6,  1890,  and  organized  a  Clerical 
Association.  The  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Carver  was  elected 
President,  Rev.  J.  H.  de  Vries  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Monthly  meetings  of  the  Association  are  held,  and 
topics  of  general  community  interests  are  discussed. 

There  have  been  many  connected  with  the  Churches 
and  Sunday-schools  of  Yonkers  whose  names  are  not  re- 
corded in  these  pages.  Many  of  these  early  workers,  as 
well  as  those  of  a  later  date,  are  successfully  engaged  in 
other  fields  of  labor,  and  some  have  passed  away  from 
earth ;  but  death  cannot  put  an  end  to  their  beneficent  in- 
fluence, and  the  extent  and  result  of  their  work  will  never 
be  known  in  its  entirety  till  the  "  books  "  be  opened. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  ST.  JOHN'S  FOUNTAIN. 

Benjamin  Silliman,  architect,  designer  of  this  beauti- 
ful fountain,  furnishes  the  following  description  of  it : 

The  St.  John's  Ice  Water  Fountain  stands  six  feet 
back  from  the  corner  of  South  Broadway  and  Hudson 
Street,  on  a  raised  platform  of  rubbed  bluestone  tile  about 
eighteen  feet  across,  and  is  flanked  on  either  side  by  curved 
walls  of  stone,  three  feet  high,  and  by  two  circular  stone 
piers,  two  feet  four  inches  in  diameter  by  five  feet  high. 

The  fountain  itself  is  five  feet  six  inches  in  diameter, 
is  cylindrical  in  form,  is  built  of  Mile  wSquare  rock  face  stone, 
with  moulded  brick  base  and  foliated  red  terra-cotta  cornice, 
with  conventional  honeysuckle  ornament,  and  is  surmount- 
ed by  a  sloping  roof  of  solid  cut  stone  in  three  courses, 
the  whole  terminating  in  an  ornamental  bronze  Runic  cross 
three  feet  six  inches  high.  From  the  sidewalk  to  the  cor- 
nice is  a  height  of  nine  feet,  and  to  the  top  of  the  cross 
fifteen  feet. 

On  the  face  of  the  fountain,  fronting  Broadway,  is  a 
bronze  panel  two  feet  wide  by  three  feet  nine  inches  high, 
slightly  concave,  and  finished  at  the  top  with  a  semi-circular 
head,  set  in  an  opening  in  the  stone-work  with  brick  quoins 
and  brick  voussoirs.  The  bottom  of  the  bronze  panel  is  a 
large  shell,  or  basin,  to  receive  the  drip  from  the  faucet, 
which  is  arranged  as  a  lotus  flower  growing  up  from  among 
lotus  leaves  and  buds,  which  are  modelled  across  the  whole 
width  of  the  panel  over  the  shell  to  the  height  of  about  six 
inches  ;  and  over  them  is  a  slightly  projecting  curved  shelf. 
On  this  shelf  stands  a  figure  of  St.  John  the  Apostle,  twenty- 
two  inches  high,  modelled  in  bas  relief,  with  the  conven- 
tional eagle  at  the  feet  and  a  nimbus  around  the  head. 


522  APPENDIX. 

In  the  semi-circular  head  of  the  panel  is  the  inscription  : 
"  St.  John's  Ice  Water  Fountain,  Erected  MDCCCXCI ;"  and 
running  down  the  panel,  on  either  side  of  the  figure,  are 
the  words  of  the  text  from  John  4:  13,  14:  "Whosoever 
drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst  again,"  etc. 

At  the  back  of  the  fountain,  facing  the  church,  is  an 
antique  oak  door  studded  with  bolt-heads,  and  having  a 
cross  of  bolt-heads  and  ornamental  black  iron  strap-hinges 
and  circular  knob,  all  made  from  special  designs.  This 
door  conceals  the  refrigerator,  which  is  built  into  the  foun- 
tain in  such  a  way  that  it  can  easily  be  got  at  and  repaired, 
should  occasion  for  such  work  arise.  The  refrigerator  is 
built  of  alternate  layers  of  wood  and  felt,  is  asphalted 
inside  and  out,  and  is  lined  with  copper.  It  is  two  feet  in 
diameter,  seven  feet  eight  inches  high,  and  contains  a  coil 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  of  galvanized  iron  pipe 
suspended  beneath  three  hundred  pounds  of  ice. 

The  fountain  is  supplied  from  a  water  meter,  and  has 
the  most  perfect  system  of  drainage  and  convenient  arrange- 
ment for  turning  the  water  off  and  on.  The  ice  does  not 
come  in  contact  with  the  water,  but  only  cools  the  space 
around  the  pipe  containing  it,  so  that  no  danger  can  accrue 
to  health  from  germs  carried  in  the  ice.  It  is  expected  that 
the  temperature  of  the  water  will  be  forty  degrees  Fahren- 
heit as  it  runs  from  the  faucet. 

The  stone-work  and  brick-work  were  done  by  J.  and  G. 
Stewart ;  the  carpenter  work  and  ornamental  hinges  by  S.  F. 
Quick  ;  the  plumbing  was  by  Linehan  Brothers  ;  the  model- 
ling and  casting  of  the  bronze  panel  and  cross  by  the  Tif- 
fany Glass  Company,  of  New  York  city ;  the  bluestone 
tiling  by  J.  and  R.  Kellock ;  the  iron  doors  to  pit  by  Noble 
Walsh. 

The  fountain  and  boundary  wall  have  been  designed 
so  as  to  be  entirely  in  keeping  with  the  style  of  St.  John's 
Church  and  Parish  buildings. 


APPENDIX. 


523 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL  HONOR  ROLL. 

The  following  persons  have  been  connected  with  their 
respective  schools  as  officers  or  teachers  from  the  date  of 
organization  of  the  later  schools  or  for  the  longest  period 
in  the  earlier  ones : 


Miss  A.  Emeline  Hoyt,'-'" 
Miss  Helen  A.  Rollins,t 
Mrs.  Anna  S.  Burgess,f 
Miss  Caroline  H.  Tripler,f 
Mrs.  James  B.  Colgate,! 
Mr.  William  R.  Mott, 
Mr.  Horace  H.  Thayer, 
Mr.  Samuel  A.  Moore, 
Mrs.  George  W.  Cobb, 
Mrs.  Dewitt  C.  Kellinger, 
Mr.  John  P.  Groshon, 
Miss  Caroline  Jones,* 
Mr.  Charles  R.  Dusenberry 
Mr.  L  V.  Underbill, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Merritt, 
Miss  M.  Arsenia, 
Mr.  Charles  R.  Otis, 
Mr.  A.  O.  Kirkwood, 
Miss  M.  Josie  Sanders, 
*  Deceased. 


Miss  Mary  A.  Croes, 
Miss  Sophia  Macadam, 
Mr.  John  Forsyth, 
Mr.  J.  Willet  Bynon, 
Mr.  Charles  P.  Bynon, 
Mrs.  Charles  P.  Bynon. 
Mr.  Wallace  Pulver, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Madison, 
Mr.  William  Beutler, 
Mr.  Charles  Lockwood, 
Mrs.  A.  E.  C.  Hyde, 
Miss  M.  Stephens, 
Rev.  Charles  S.  Fariess, 
Mr.  Herman  H.  Kroenke, 
Mrs.  Henry  Bowers, 
Mr.  George  Stewart, 
Mr.  Wells  Olmsted. 
Miss  Mary  Randolph, 
Miss  Janet  W.  Flagg. 


t  These  ladies  have  been  engaged  in  Sunday-school  work  in  Yonkers 
about  the  same  number  of  years,  and  their  names  stand  second  in  the  list. 


ST.  JOHN'S  EPISCOPAL.  CHURCH  AND  RECTORY  IN   1872. 


The  Church  was  reconstructed  and  completed  in  1871-2, 
under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  William  S.  Langford; 
D.  D.,  at  a  cost  of  eighty  thousand  dollars.  And  the  first 
Rectory  was  built  within  the  present  church  grounds  during 
the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Henry  L.  Storrs,  A.  M. 


Page  47,  line  3.     Names  of  Societies  omitted  in  St.  John's  Church  in  1891. 
The  Church  Periodical  Club,  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Sandford,  Librarian. 
St.  John's  Home.     Established,  September,  1890. 
St.  John's  Kitchen  Garden      Teacher,  Mrs.  L   C.  VVray. 
St.  Andrew's  Brotherhood,  J.  Fowler  Trow,  President. 

Page  55,  lines  6  and  7.     For  Clayton,  read  Claxton. 

Page  61,  line  42.     Teacher,  Miss  Jennie  A.  Fowler. 

Page  63,  line  8.  Sixty-four  acres,  which  is  evidently  an  error  in  Bolton's 
History,  should  read  six  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

Page  103,  line  38.  Omitted  in  names  of  teachers  in  Chinese  Department, 
Helen  B.  Kirkwood,  and  Miss  Amelia  Campbell. 

Page  142,  line  2.     For  Anna  May  Dick,  read  Anna  May  Drinkwater. 

Page  142,  line  3.  For  Florence  Estelle  Drinkwater  read  Florence  Estelle 
Dick. 

Page  283,  line  18.     For  James  Montgomery  read  William  Montgomery. 

Page  284,  line  i.  For  Mrs  James  Montgomery  read  Mrs.  William  Mont- 
gomery. 

Page  412,  line — .  In  an  address  at  the  dedication  of  the  new  Teutonia 
Hall,  February  15,  1892,  Rudolph  Eickemeyer  stated  that  "  the  German  Luilieran 
Evangelical  Church  of  Yonkers  was  in  its  early  history  indebted  to  the  Yonkers 
Leider  Kranz  Society,  now  the  Yonkers  Teutonia  Society,  who  gave  the  gratui- 
tous use  of  their  former  hall  for  their  meetings  for  two  years.  Also  that  the 
Rev.  J.  C.  Wiete  came  to  Yonkers  to  organize  a  German  Lutheran  Church," 
which  facts  are  not  given  in  the  "  History  of  Church  and  Sunaay-school  Work 
in  Yonkers." 

Page  463,  line  38.     For  Theodore  Ross  read  James  Ross. 

Page  467,  line—.  Omitted  in  names  of  Superintendents  of  Primary  Depart- 
ment, Miss  Margaret  M.  McNab,  now  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Gorton. 

Page  523,  The  names  of  Anson  B  Hoyt  should  appear  second  on  the  Sun- 
day-school Honor  Roll. 


DATE  DUE 

Jm^4r 

mQ 

CAYLOHD 

.R.NTEO.NU..* 

»     11 

11  ll"^ 

li 

ijiiiiii 

n 

'|tii 

111  III 

1 1 

1 

BW4208.8.Y5K5 

Church  and  Sunday-school  work  in 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Librar; 


1    1012  00017  2843 


I'll 


,1 11 1 


